{"id":897062,"date":"2026-04-05T09:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T14:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/05\/usa-womens-hockey-team-declines-white-houses-state-of-the-union-invite\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T09:21:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T14:21:00","slug":"usa-womens-hockey-team-declines-white-houses-state-of-the-union-invite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/05\/usa-womens-hockey-team-declines-white-houses-state-of-the-union-invite\/","title":{"rendered":"USA women\u2019s hockey team declines White House\u2019s State of the Union invite"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Amber Searls-Imagn Images\n <\/p>\n

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\n Originally posted on
\n Daily Faceoff<\/a>
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\n By Tyler Kuehl
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\n Last\u00a0updated\u00a0Feb\u00a023,\u00a02026\u00a03:10\u00a0PM\u00a0ET\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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While one of USA Hockey\u2019s Olympic champions will be in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night, the other won\u2019t be.<\/p>\n

According to NBC News<\/em> White House correspondent Monica Alba, the U.S. women\u2019s hockey team has declined an invitation from President Donald Trump<\/a> to attend the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The White House did invite the U.S. women’s hockey team to the State of the Union but a spokesperson says while they are “sincerely grateful” for the recognition, the players are unable to attend “due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”<\/p>\n

\u2014 Monica Alba (@albamonica) February 23, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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A USA Hockey spokesperson told\u00a0NBC<\/em>\u00a0News<\/em><\/a>\u00a0that conflicting schedules are why the women won\u2019t be able to attend.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal\u2013winning U.S. Women\u2019s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,\u201d the USA Hockey spokesperson said. \u201cDue to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. \u2026 They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven of the 23 players on the women\u2019s team, including tournament MVP Caroline Harvey<\/a>, are still college students. Along with being back in school, the players are also gearing up for their respective conference tournaments this weekend. Also, the PWHL is set to return to action on Thursday, with all eight teams scheduled to play this weekend.<\/p>\n

The announcement comes after the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams both walked away<\/a> from the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics with gold medals. Both squads beat Canada<\/a> in their respective finals, both coming out on top in 2-1 contests that required overtime.<\/p>\n

In a video circulating online, Trump, speaking to the men\u2019s team via FBI Director Kash Patel\u2019s phone in the locker room after the gold medal game, invited the gold medalists to Tuesday\u2019s event in the U.S. capital. However, he went out of his way to inform the team that he would be inviting the women\u2019s team as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll do the White House\u2026we\u2019ll just have some fun, we have medals for you guys,\u201d Trump said to the team<\/a>. \u201cAnd we have to, I must tell you, we\u2019re going to have to bring the women\u2019s team, you do know that? \u2026 I do believe I probably would be impeached.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. women\u2019s team<\/a> captured its first gold medal since the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and the third in the program\u2019s history. The game was played in front of a record-breaking TV audience in the country, with an average of 5.3 million people<\/a> watching last Thursday\u2019s final against the rival Canadians<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff<\/a> and was syndicated with permission.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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