Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team declined the State of the Union invite after their gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- Scheduling conflicts and prior commitments prevented the team’s attendance, as confirmed by a spokesperson.
- The invitation came from President Trump following their victory against Canada in overtime.
- Logistical issues, not political reasons, influenced the team’s decision, according to USA Hockey.
- The State of the Union address features limited seating and includes members of Congress and government officials.
The U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team State of the Union invite was declined following their victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The team confirmed they would not attend the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. The invitation had been extended by President Donald Trump after the Olympics concluded.
The players cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for declining the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team State of the Union invite. A team spokesperson stated that prior professional and academic commitments prevented attendance.
Details Behind the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team State of the Union Invite
The invitation followed the team’s gold medal win at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The United States defeated Canada 2–1 in overtime in the women’s final. The win secured another Olympic title for the program.
The State of the Union address was scheduled shortly after the team’s return from Italy. Reports indicated the players were traveling back to North America on a commercial flight before the speech. Timing constraints made participation difficult.
USA Hockey confirmed the decision was based on logistics and existing obligations. The organization stated that the absence was not politically motivated.
Additional Context Surrounding the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team State of the Union Invite
President Trump also invited the U.S. men’s ice hockey team after their gold medal performance at the same Olympics. The men’s team won its final in overtime against Canada.
The State of the Union address is held annually at the U.S. Capitol. Members of Congress, government officials, and invited guests attend the event. Seating capacity is limited.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson noted that arrangements were being considered for invited guests. Media outlets reported that videos and photos showed Trump congratulating the teams and extending invitations publicly.
The National Hockey League and the Professional Women’s Hockey League were scheduled to resume play soon after the Olympics. This contributed to the scheduling constraints referenced by team representatives.
