U.S. Women's Hockey Team Declines State of the Union Invitation
Team cited scheduling conflicts after 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic gold and declined President Trump's invitation to Tuesday's State of the Union at 9 p.m.
Overview
The U.S. women's ice hockey team said Monday they will not attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union on Tuesday at 9 p.m., citing scheduling conflicts, USA Hockey said.
The invitation followed the team's gold-medal overtime victory over Canada at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games, and a locker-room call in which Trump invited the men's team and mentioned the women's team.
USA Hockey said the athletes are 'sincerely grateful' for the invitation but have 'previously scheduled academic and professional commitments' after the Games, a team spokesperson said.
Both U.S. Olympic hockey teams beat Canada in 2-1 overtime games, with the men's win Sunday sealed by Jack Hughes's overtime goal, and it is unclear whether the men's team will attend the speech.
The Professional Women's Hockey League resumes on Thursday, Feb. 26, college players on the team have games on Friday, and the NHL season resumes on Wednesday, affecting availability.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this item neutrally: they present the USA Hockey spokesperson’s scheduling explanation and Trump's joking remark without loaded language, include the White House non-response, and avoid moralizing. Editorial choices prioritize direct quotes (source content) and basic chronology, giving balanced, factual coverage without evaluative framing.
Sources (15)
FAQ
The team cited timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games as the reason for declining. Specifically, the PWHL resumes on Thursday, February 26, and college players on the team have games on Friday, while the NHL season resumes on Wednesday, creating scheduling conflicts that prevent the athletes from attending Tuesday's State of the Union address.
The U.S. women's hockey team won their gold medal on Thursday when they defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. This victory came just days before the State of the Union invitation.
The status of the U.S. men's hockey team's attendance is unclear. President Trump also invited the men's team, which won gold by defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime on Sunday. However, the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of both teams' attendance.
The PWHL is experiencing record-breaking attendance. In January 2026 alone, the league welcomed more than 154,000 fans across its first 16 games, with a per-game average of 8,726 across all 49 games that season. Additionally, a PWHL game in Washington, D.C. on January 18, 2026, set a new attendance record of 17,228 fans, marking the highest-attended in-arena game in U.S. women's hockey history.
The U.S. women's hockey team's 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the gold medal game was described as a thrilling moment that united the country. The team's statement expressed that it was 'such an amazing way to unite the country,' and the athletes felt significant support both during the Olympics and upon returning home, reflecting the broader cultural importance of the achievement.
History
3 sources