All right, wrapping things up with NBC’s coverage, and of course they have the big one…well, a little of the big one, anyway. 
Starting with the #9 woman after the short program, American journeyman Sarah Everhardt, stepping in to replace Alysa Liu. Clean except for one step out, definitely one of the better routines I’ve seen from her, but just doesn’t have superstar power. Scores not given.
Jumping all the way to #5 Nina Pinzarrone, from Belgium. I’ve heard her touted as a successor to Loena Hendricxs, and she definitely looked worthy of the honor here. Very sound technically, and she demonstrated remarkable flexibility (which the announcers noted). 143.38 / 215.20, easily into 1st.
On to #4, American Isabeau Levito, and the question, as always, is if she can hold it together this time. Unfortunate flub on the opening combination, good the rest of the way but not spectacular. 134.83 / 206.99, into 2nd.
And here comes #3, American Amber Glenn. Hoo boy. This is one of those contentious figures that, even though I 100% support who she is and what she’s doing, I’m always a little lerry about cheering too hard for her because she can suffer a big letdown at any time. (Leftover paranoia from American Ninja Warrior, I’m sure.) After the short program, I didn’t see her as a championship contender (getting past Kaori Sakamoto is just too much to ask), but if she could just make the podium, I’d consider that a rightful triumph.
All right, triple axle, great…good, good…triple salchow, bit wobbly coming out, still fine…oh…ohhhhhh. Complete pop on the triple loop. And then again on a double axle, and that’s all she wrote.
This is the story with her. She’s powerful, she’s capable, but there’s always been something a bit off with her mechanics (always takes big windups with loops and salchows, a no-no at World Championship level) and they can betray her at any time. She never looks completely at ease on the ice like Nina Pinzarrone and Alysa Liu. All the credit for three straight National titles, but the bottom line is that you can’t expect too much from her. Final tally, 130.47 / 203.12…4th.
#2 is the what-coulda-been from Milan, Japan’s Mone Chiba, who finished 4th in the Olympics. Call it a hunch, but I think she’s going to do better now. 
(Dang, I’m always amazed as to how incredibly young these Japanese skaters look…she’s 20 and looks about 15.) The routine? She was a ballerina. The only thing that she got marked down for was the triple combo (couldn’t see what for). Other than that, brilliance. 150.02 / 228.47 and rockets straight to 1st.
Now it all comes down to #1, and who else was it ever going to be but the Japanese juggernaut Kaori Sakamoto. (Dang, the comparisons to Meiko grow more stark every year. ) The tally for a jaw-dropping 4th World Championship is right there, 149.17. She begins with a crisp double axel and…wow. Wow. And wow again. How do I put this…she combines the total control of Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo with the effortless beauty of, well, Mone Chiba. She seems overwhelmed by her own brilliance at the end, and who can blame her.
All right, time to make it official! And it’s…it’s…158.97 / 238.28! 
Bow before your queen! Mone Chiba and Nina Pinzarrone get a well-deserved 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Phew! Well, that was certainly an eventful season of figure skating. Lot of questions going into next winter, such as whether Alysa Liu will keep her incredible ride going and the battle over who Japan’s next leading lady will be. I tell you, I can’t remember a time when the sport was this watchable! 
