Bell changed coaches in August 2016, joining Rafael Arutyunyan in Lakewood, California.
She landed on the podium at two of her 2016–17 ISU Challenger Series assignments.
Ranked second in both segments, she took silver at the 2016 CS U.S. International Classic, behind Satoko Miyahara.
At the 2016 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial, she placed fifth in the short, fourth in the free, and third overall behind Maria Sotskova and Yulia Lipnitskaya.
She was invited to the 2016 Skate America to replace the injured Angela Wang.
She won the silver medal behind Ashley Wagner after placing sixth in the short program and first in the free skate.

In January 2017, Bell received the bronze medal at the U.S. Championships, earning her a spot on the Four Continents and World teams.
In February, she placed sixth at the 2017 Four Continents Championships in Gangneung, South Korea.
She later placed twelfth at her first trip to the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
Bell changed coaches in August 2016, joining Rafael Arutyunyan in Lakewood, California. She landed on the podium at two of her 2016–17 ISU Challenger Series assignments. Ranked second in both segments, she took silver at the 2016 CS U.S. International Classic, behind Satoko Miyahara. At the 2016 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial, she placed fifth in the short, fourth in the free, and third overall behind Maria Sotskova and Yulia Lipnitskaya. She was invited to the 2016 Skate America to replace the injured Angela Wang. She won the silver medal behind Ashley Wagner after placing sixth in the short program and first in the free skate.
In January 2017, Bell received the bronze medal at the U.S. Championships, earning her a spot on the Four Continents and World teams. In February, she placed sixth at the 2017 Four Continents Championships in Gangneung, South Korea. She later placed twelfth at her first trip to the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
Mariah Bell