Reigning World champion Alysa Liu set a new international personal best short program score to place third after the first day of the women's competition at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

This marks the first time since 2006 that a U.S. woman has placed in the top three after the short program at an Olympic Winter Games. Liu, competing at her second Olympic Games, will look to clinch her first individual Olympic medal on Thursday after winning team gold with Team USA last week.

Liu kicked off the final warm-up group with a performance to Laufey's "Promise" that was spellbinding in its freedom and ease. The reigning World champion floated through her jumps, including an opening triple flip and the most difficult combination of the event, a triple Lutz-triple loop that earned her 11.71 points. Her step sequence and spins melded beautifully with coach Massimo Scali's choreography, and all were awarded Level 4s.

The program earned 76.59 points, a new international personal best score that put Liu just 2.12 points off the lead.

"I loved it. I'm really happy about how I skated," Liu said. "My siblings, my best friends, my family — a ton of my family is out there. I saw them on the warmup and I also saw them during my program, so it was a really cool moment, because they never come to watch like this, and I'm really glad I did super well. I felt super grounded and I connected with my program on another level compared to the rest of the season."

For Isabeau Levito, who made her Olympic debut, competing in Milan is a homecoming of sorts as her grandmother, Nonno Stella, lives just 13 minutes from Milano Ice Skating Arena. In a further nod to her heritage, her short program is a tribute to Italian icon Sophia Loren.

Levito personified charm and elegance in her short program to "Zou Bisou Bisou" and "Almost in Your Arms," sparkling in her steps and spins. Led by a solid triple flip-triple toe loop combination worth 10.56 points, the 2023 U.S. champion and 2024 World silver medalist tallied 70.84 points. She finished in eighth place, 7.87 points out of medal position.

"I felt really good. I felt proud of myself. I felt strong, so I'm happy with how it went," Levito said, adding that being able to compete on Olympic ice for the first time was "very special."

Amber Glenn, the reigning and three-time U.S. champion who also stood atop the podium with Team USA last week in the team event, opened her dynamic and stylish short program to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" with a superb triple Axel that gained more than 10 points, making it the highest-scoring single jump of the event.

However, later in the program, she doubled a planned triple loop and therefore gained no points for the jump. She earned 67.39 points for 13th place.

"I had it," a tearful Glenn told her coach, Damon Allen, as she entered the kiss and cry.

Competition resumes Thursday with the women's free skate at 1 p.m. ET.

For full results and to follow Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games, including the full schedule, bios, news and more, visit the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 Competition Central.