US women's hockey team declines Trump's State of the Union invitation

Team USA beat Team Canada to claim Gold in Men’s Hockey for the first time since 1980. Colin Cowherd asks how this win compares to that 1980 win over the Soviet Union and how America should feel about their team.

The United States women’s ice hockey team, fresh off a gold-medal victory over Canada in the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday. 

"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," USA Hockey told NBC News. "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."

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Team United States celebrates after their win over Sweden at the Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

The women’s hockey team was dominant in the Olympics, and it came down to the gold medal game against their rival, Team Canada, this past week in a thriller that required overtime after a late goal by Hilary Knight tied the game at one apiece with less than two minutes to play in the third period. 

Knight’s heroics allowed the three-on-three golden-goal overtime period, where Megan Keller received a pass down ice, made a nifty deke on a Canadian defender, and back-handed a shot past the goaltender for the win.

Just days later, the men’s hockey team did the exact same against Canada, as Jack