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The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics gold medal-winning United States women's ice hockey team has declined President Donald Trump's invitation to the State of the Union address, a USA Hockey spokesperson said in a statement obtained by NBC News on Monday (February 23).
"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," the spokesperson said. "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 spokesperson added.
The decision came one day after a clip went viral showing Trump on a speaker phone call inviting the gold medal-winning United States men's ice hockey team to the State of the Union address and joking that he "would be impeached" if he didn't also invite the women's team.
"I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that," Trump said on the call.
"I do believe I probably would be impeached," he added.
Megan Keller's overtime goal led the U.S. women's ice hockey team to a 2-1 victory against Canada in the gold medal game on Thursday (February 19). Keller scored 4:07 into 3-on-3 overtime having also assisted, along with Laila Edwards, on Hilary Knight's game-tying goal late in the third period.
The golden goal gave the Americans their first Olympic gold medal since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and third all-time in Olympic play, with the first coming at the 1998 Nagano Games. Team USA avenged a 4-2 loss to Canada at the 2022 Beijing Games, coming off a 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship last April.
Knight, 36, who made her final Olympic appearance at the Milan Cortina Games, became a two-time gold medalist and three-time total medal winner and her second period goal moved her into sole possession atop the U.S. hockey record book for most Olympic goals (15) and points (33) in both men's or women's play. The historic goal followed Knight's proposal to her partner, U.S. speed skater Brittany Bowe, two days prior to the gold medal match. Edwards also made history as the first Black woman to win a gold medal with USA hockey.
The U.S. women's hockey team outscored its opponents, 33-2, which included five shutouts, while going a perfect 7-0 in Olympic play.