The Race for Number One: Alysa Liu and Mone Chiba Headline the Post-Sakamoto Era in the ISU Women's World Standings

The landscape of women's figure skating has officially shifted. As the International Skating Union (ISU) finalizes the Grand Prix assignments for the 2026-2027 season, the World Standings reflect a dramatic changing of the guard following the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.[2][4]

At the summit sits American Alysa Liu with 4,248 points, completing a remarkable multi-year comeback to claim the world No. 1 ranking.[1]

Right on her heels is Japan's Mone Chiba with 4,164 points. The razor-thin 84-point margin between the two sets the stage for a season-long battle for the top seed.[1]

The elephant in the room is Kaori Sakamoto. The Japanese icon currently sits at No. 2 with 4,178 points, but her widely reported retirement means her points will soon be scrubbed from the active ledger.[1][3]

Under ISU rules, a skater's standing is officially removed only when their national federation files the formal retirement paperwork. Until then, Sakamoto remains a mathematical placeholder, but the active race belongs entirely to Liu and Chiba.[7]

The ISU points system is a rolling ledger that rewards both peak performance and relentless consistency. Points are calculated based on a skater's placements over the current and preceding two seasons, with the oldest year's points dropping off each summer.[7]

With the 2023-2024 season points now deleted, the math heavily favored skaters who maximized their Challenger Series and Grand Prix appearances over the last 24 months.[5][7]

Liu's strategic return to competition paid massive dividends in this specific format. By stacking international B-tier events alongside her major championship finishes, she accumulated the sheer volume of points needed to surpass the field.[5][6]

Chiba, meanwhile, has been a model of consistency for Japan. With Sakamoto stepping away, the Japanese Skating Federation will look to the two-time ISU World medalist to maintain their historic dominance in the women's discipline.[2][3]

The American depth behind Liu is staggering, signaling a broader resurgence for US Figure Skating. Amber Glenn sits comfortably at No. 4 with 3,671 points.[1]

Glenn's placement is driven by her 2024 Grand Prix Final victory and a string of consistent podium finishes that have made her one of the most reliable scorers on the circuit.[2]

Isabeau Levito rounds out the top five with 3,245 points, giving the United States three of the top five spots in the world—a level of density the American program has not enjoyed in years.[1]

Japan's Ami Nakai sits at No. 6 with 2,992 points, ensuring that the USA-Japan rivalry will continue to define the final flights of every major international competition.[1]

The Grand Prix assignments, released in mid-June, map out the immediate battleground. Liu is slated to headline Skate America, giving her a chance to defend her No. 1 ranking on home ice.[2][4]

Chiba will take a different path, assigned to the Cup of China in Shenzhen and the NHK Trophy in Japan.[2][4]

Because Liu and Chiba are not assigned to the same initial Grand Prix events, the two frontrunners will be shadowboxing through the fall. They will be competing against each other's scores from afar, trying to secure the full 400 points awarded for a Grand Prix win.[6][7]

The ultimate showdown will likely come at the Grand Prix Final in Chongqing, China, in December. Only the top six skaters from the fall circuit qualify, and the No. 1 world ranking will almost certainly be directly on the line.[3][4]

For fans and analysts alike, this represents the most competitive and unpredictable women's field in a half-decade. The post-Sakamoto era isn't a rebuilding phase; it is a high-stakes sprint between two distinct skating powerhouses.[5][6]