Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Episode 11 Recap: Who Won the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy?

For the first time ever, five couples competed in the finale of Dancing with the Stars. While it seemed like a twist on the semi-final, Dancing with the Stars Season 32 Episode 11 makes it clear this was the idea all along.

For starters, this was a three-hour finale episode, and well, we were promised some surprises!

Each of the five finalists performed a redemption dance as well as the always fun freestyle routine. 

The finale also brought back the other couples from the season, as well as some additional, unforgettable performances from special guests. Mark Ballas and Charli D’Amelio, the reigning champions, returned to the stage for an energetic performance that also offered a bit of nostalgia.

Co-hosts Alberto Ribeiro and Julianne Hough also managed to get out on the dance floor, each with former partners. The routine brought out some other former winners as well.

And just before the winners were announced, Jason Mraz gave a special performance of one of his own songs that included dances from the pros and a little help from Derek Hough.

Here are a few highlights from the competition this week:

Redemption Round

Alyson and Sasha’s redemption dance was a Salsa that the judges praised for the way Alyson has improved over the course of the season. They praised her ability as well as her confidence. They earned a 25/30.

Jason and Daniella were given the Foxtrot as their redemption dance. Bruno called it “fantastic” and said it was a proper Foxtrot. They earned a perfect score of 30/30.

Then, Ariana and Pasha were given the Samba as their redemption dance. The judges also praised her improvement, though Carrie Ann noted there was just a little trouble with timing. They earned a score of 29/30.

Charity and Artem danced a Tango for their redemption dance, which Derek called the best dance of the night. Carrie Ann noted that she saw a mistake, but otherwise, the judges all praised the routine. Their score: 29/30

Finally, Xochitl and Val were given the Foxtrot for their redemption dance. Bruno praised the improvement, and Carrie Ann called the dance “breathtaking.” They earned a score of 30/30.

Freestyle Round

Charity and Artem’s freestyle tapped into Charity’s cheerleading background and showed off her skills in a brand new way, with killer tricks and acrobatics.

This was one special, too, because it had her dancing with other pros in addition to Artem. The crowd went wild for this one, and the judges did as well. They earned a score of 30/30.

Then Jason and Daniella danced a freestyle routine that had everyone on their feet. It was fun, full of energy, and extremely joyful. The judges loved it just as much, and the couple earned a score of 30/30.

Ariana and Pasha’s freestyle was performed to “Run the World (Girls),” a fitting song and routine for Ariana’s personal journey. Carrie Ann said it was “off the charts” and said she always showed the audience “what an empowered woman looks like.” Their score, unsurprisingly, was a 30/30.

Next up, Alyson and Sasha danced a freestyle that started with Taylor Swift’s song then offered a shout-out to her iconic role on American Pie. which pushed Alyson to perform her best dance yet. Bruno called her “the peoples’ champion.” They earned a score of 28/30. 

Xochitl and Val’s freestyle incorporated Latin dance for a fierce routine that showed what a powerful dancer Xochitl is. The judges praised the routine, in particular, for the way the two of them danced together.

Derek called her the most “consistent, charismatic, captivating dancer” on the show. Their score: 30/30

The winner:

With five couples competing in the final, it was even more challenging to predict who might win, but this year’s winner was the couple with the highest judges scores — including four perfect scores in a row.

The winners of Dancing with the Stars Season 32 are Xochitl and Val! They were awarded the first-ever Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, which was celebrated with plenty of tears and even more confetti.

Here are this week’s final scores, which include the scores from each round of the finale AND each round of the semi-final (last week’s episode):

• Xochitl Gomez and Val: 120
• Charity Lawson and Artem: 118 
• Ariana Madix and Pasha: 117
• Jason Mraz and Daniella: 117
• Alyson Hannigan and Sasha: 104

What did you think of this episode of Dancing with the Stars? Who was your favorite dancer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+. Viewers can stream the series on Hulu the following day. 

 Follow us on Twitter and on  Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

The Most Memorable TV Moments of 2023 According to Tell-Tale TV Readers!