The U.S. women’s hockey team won gold on the world stage — but they won’t be in the audience for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
According to a spokesperson who spoke to NBC News’ Monica Alba, the team was invited to attend Tuesday night’s address but declined, citing scheduling conflicts. The players said they were “sincerely grateful” for the recognition, but are unable to attend “due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
The team recently captured gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, defeating rival Canada in overtime in a dramatic final. Their victory marked another milestone in a program that has been a powerhouse in women’s international hockey for decades.
Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, before a joint session of Congress at the United States Capitol. The annual speech gives the president an opportunity to outline his administration’s priorities and present his view of the nation’s condition.
The White House also extended an invitation to the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team after its gold-medal win over Canada at the Milan-Cortina Games. While the men’s team reportedly accepted the invitation during a phone call with Trump, it remains unclear whether they will ultimately attend the event.
Women’s ice hockey has been part of the Winter Olympics since its debut at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan, where the United States won the inaugural gold medal. Since then, the rivalry between the U.S. and Canada has defined the sport on the Olympic stage, with both teams trading championships in tightly contested matchups.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
