Alysa Liu became the first American women's figure skating world champion in nearly two decades Friday night, dethroning three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto with a brilliant free skate that earned her a standing ovation inside TD Garden.

Bay Area figure skater Alysa Liu won a gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships at 19, less than three years after retiring.

After the Americans' showing Friday, for the first time since 2002, when Michelle Kwan was reigning world champ, an American woman will be favored going into the Olympic Games.