Chelsea Liu and Ryan Bedard led the U.S. National Team on Friday with a fifth-place finish in pairs at 2026 Cup of China, the third stop in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

Twelve U.S. skaters are competing in Shenzhen, China, this weekend at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre.

Liu and Bedard generated 62.71 points in their short program to "Still Loving You" by The Scorpions. They earned Level 4 credit for their lift, death spiral and combination spin.

Partners since 2025, the California-based team is making its Grand Prix Series debut.

In sixth place in pairs is the veteran team of Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez, who produced a score of 59.48 with their short program to "Whatever Lola Wants" by Anthony Strong and "Quizás Quizás Quizás" by Michael Buble.

Program highlights included three Level 4 elements and a solid throw triple loop that yielded 6.07 points.

The Michigan-based team is competing in its sixth career Grand Prix event.

In ice dance, the U.S. teams of Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville, and Eva Pate and Logan Bye placed sixth and seventh in rhythm dance, respectively, with scores of 65.04 and 64.84.

Bratti and Somerville, who are looking for their second career Grand Prix medal (bronze at 2024 Grand Prix de France), earned Level 4 credit for their opening stationary lift and closing creative dance element during their performance to a medley of "Telephone" by Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, "You Don't Own Me" by Saygrace, John Madara and David White, and "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga.

Pate and Bye delivered two Level 4 elements for their rotational lift and creative dance move. Their Golden Waltz element featured in their Pirates of the Caribbean rhythm dance generated a program-best 8.41 points.

Two U.S. women, Sophie Joline von Felten and Alina Bonillo, made their Grand Prix Series debuts, placing ninth and 10th in the short program, respectively, with scores of 60.19 and 59.30.

Von Felten, the 2025 U.S. junior champion, garnered Level 4 credit for two of her spins and produced a program-best 6.89 points for her triple loop-double toe loop combination. She skated to "I Will Never Abandon You" by Efisio Cross and "Cassiopeia" by Jonathon Deering, Power-Haus and Ros Stephen.

Bonillo achieved a Level 4 spin and opened her skate to "I Need A Hero" and "Woman Down" by Beth Hart with a program-best element score of 6.86 for her triple Lutz-double toe loop combination.

In the men's event, Jacob Sanchez and Lucius Kazanecki placed 11th and 12th respectively, with scores of 79.45 and 63.16.

Sanchez is competing at his second Grand Prix event this season after placing eighth at Grand Prix de France last month, and Kazanecki is making his Grand Prix debut at this event.

Competition resumes Saturday, Nov. 7 with the free dance beginning at 1:30 a.m. ET, followed by the women's free skate and pairs free skate. The men's free skate takes place Sunday, Nov. 8 at 12 a.m. ET.

For a full schedule, results, news and more, visit the 2026 Grand Prix Series Competition Central.