PWHL
“Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”
The US women’s hockey team defeated Canada in overtime on Thursday. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
February 23, 2026 | 5:27 PM
2 minutes to read
The U.S. women’s hockey team — fresh off of winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics — declined President Donald Trump’s invitation for the team to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address, with a spokesperson for USA Hockey citing scheduling conflicts.
USA Hockey issued a statement to The Athletic, which read: “We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement.
“Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
The U.S. women’s team defeated Canada in overtime, 2-1, on Thursday to win the gold medal.
The U.S. men’s hockey team — which won gold in an overtime win over Canada on Sunday — was also invited to Tuesday’s State of the Union event at the US Capitol.
Trump invited the men’s team to both the State of the Union and an event at the White House on Wednesday shortly after they defeated Canada, 2-1, in Milan.
During a celebration in the Team USA dressing room at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena — which also included FBI director Kash Patel — the men’s hockey team received a call from Trump.
In video taken in the dressing room during Trump’s call to the men’s team, he appeared to joke about the U.S. women’s team.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said, adding that he’d “probably be impeached” if he didn’t invite the women’s team. Several of the men’s team players appeared to laugh at Trump’s comment.
Several players of the U.S. women’s hockey team play for NCAA programs, which were not on break for Olympics play. Multiple other players participate in the PWHL pro hockey league, which resumes play on Thursday.
The NHL resumes action Wednesday after nearly three weeks off due to the Olympics, which would conflict with men’s hockey players who commit to attending both the State of the Union and any potential event at the White House on Wednesday.
Team USA has not made a formal announcement on whether the entire men’s hockey team will be in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, although The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reported that several players are expected to make the trip.
“[Werenski] and his USA teammates are expected to attend President Trump’s State of the Union address,” Portzline posted on X.
Zach Werenski, a star defenseman for the Blue Jackets, is set to play against the Bruins Thursday night at TD Garden. It remains to be seen when both Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman — both members of the gold medal men’s team — will be back in Boston’s lineup.
Thursday’s return-to-play matchup for the Bruins will hold plenty of weight in the standings, as the Blue Jackets sit just four points behind Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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