USA Women's Hockey Team Invited to Denver After Skipping White House

The team will be honored in Denver after declining a White House invitation.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 11:34pm

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The USA women's hockey team has been invited to Denver by Mayor Mike Johnston after the team declined an invitation to visit the White House following their gold medal win at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The mayor expressed understanding for the team's decision, stating that Denver would be honored to host the team and celebrate their achievement.

Why it matters

The decision by the women's hockey team to skip the traditional White House visit has sparked discussion around the role of politics in sports. Some view the team's choice as a principled stand, while others see it as an unnecessary politicization of a celebratory event. Denver's invitation provides an alternative way to honor the team's accomplishments without the political overtones.

The details

The USA women's hockey team won the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. Following their victory, the team was invited to visit the White House, a longstanding tradition for championship teams. However, the team declined the invitation, citing political differences. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston then extended an invitation for the team to visit the city and be honored for their achievement.

  • The USA women's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
  • The team was invited to visit the White House after their victory.
  • The team declined the White House invitation.
  • Denver Mayor Mike Johnston extended an invitation for the team to visit Denver.

The players

USA Women's Hockey Team

The gold medal-winning women's hockey team from the United States at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Mike Johnston

The mayor of Denver, Colorado, who invited the USA women's hockey team to visit the city after they declined a White House invitation.

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What they’re saying

“I understand why you declined the invitation to the White House.”

— Mike Johnston, Mayor of Denver (wn.com)

The takeaway

The USA women's hockey team's decision to skip the traditional White House visit has sparked a broader discussion about the role of politics in sports. Denver's invitation provides an alternative way to honor the team's accomplishments without the political overtones, highlighting the city's support for the team's achievements.