Published on May 16, 2019 on Sports Illustrated
The most promising American ladies’ figure skater to come along in the last 15 years, the reigning (and youngest-ever) national champion and the U.S.’s best bet for its first Olympic medal since the Bush administration is dying to know what she should call her slime. Alysa Liu made it at home by mixing Elmer’s glue with water and Borax, and now it’s on display, here on a steel picnic table near the entrance of the Oakland Ice Arena, this turquoise lump pocked with multicolored foam beads and air bubbles. “Alien Crisp?” she asks. “Or Alien Popcorn?”
The 13-year-old Liu doesn’t linger on this question for long. Have you seen her favorite funny cat video on Instagram? You know the one—the cat gets brain freeze after eating ice cream? And you’ve got to meet her best friend. She has a lot of best friends at the rink but only one Best! Friend!, Juliana Newton, with whom she’s skated for seven years. They just bought matching yellow mini-backpacks at Ross Dress for Less; you must see them, too.