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 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.

Instead, Japan's Wakaba Higuchi, who was arguably the most accomplished active skater without a Grand Prix title, earned the biggest victory of her career. She h

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.

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.

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