[1] Making her senior national debut, Liang placed sixth at the 2001 U.S. Championships, at the age of thirteen.

The following season, Liang won a pair of silver medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series and qualified for the JGP Final, where she placed fourth.

Liang debuted on the senior Grand Prix series in the 2003–04 season, placing fourth at the 2003 Trophée Lalique and fifth at the 2003 Cup of Russia.

In 2004, Liang changed coaches to Christy Ness in Oakland, California, commuting five hours each day.

In May 2005, Liang changed coaches to Frank Carroll and Ken Congemi at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.