Wakaba Higuchi won her first Grand Prix event after more than eight years of trying Saturday night, putting together an error-free program at Skate America to edge Japanese teammate Rinka Watanabe and American star Isabeau Levito.

ALLEN, Texas — Short program leader Isabeau Levito had the chance to become the youngest U.S. figure skater to win Skate America since Michelle Kwan. Bradie Tennell, second in the short, could have been the oldest women’s singles skater to ever win Skate America.

It was a big day for Japanese skaters as former world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara claimed pairs gold.

Former world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan opened the figure skating grand prix season with a pairs victory at Skate America on Saturday.

Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara opened figure skating's Grand Prix season by topping the pairs' short program at Skate America, where they bid for their first title since winning the 2023 World Championship.

Wakaba Higuchi won the women's title at Skate America on Saturday, leading Rinka Watanabe in a Japanese one-two in the first figure skating grand prix event of the season.

Wakaba Higuchi won her first Grand Prix event after more than eight years of trying Saturday night, putting together an error-free program at Skate America to edge Japanese teammate Rinka Watanabe and American star Isabeau Levito.

Wakaba Higuchi of Japan finishes first in the women's competition at Skate America with a total score of 196.93.