Auston Matthews and Girlfriend Vanessa Piunno Go Public After USA Olympics Triumph

The Toronto Maple Leafs captain and his certified skincare specialist partner celebrated Team USA's gold medal win against Canada.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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U.S. Olympic men's hockey captain Auston Matthews celebrated with his girlfriend, Vanessa Piunno, after the team's gold-medal victory against Canada at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. Piunno, a certified skincare specialist and entrepreneur, shared photos of the pair partying in Milan, confirming they're an item.

Why it matters

Matthews and Piunno's public debut as a couple comes after Matthews led Team USA to a dramatic overtime victory against Canada in the gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The win and Matthews' performance as captain have made him a rising star in the hockey world.

The details

In her Instagram post, Piunno shared photos of herself hugging Matthews and the two of them celebrating with drinks. Piunno was wearing a Milano Cortina Olympics jacket with Matthews' name and number. It's unclear how long the pair have been dating, but they appear to have gone public with their relationship after the Olympics triumph.

  • On February 22, 2026, Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal in men's ice hockey at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
  • On February 23, 2026, Matthews and his Olympic teammates celebrated their gold medal victory at E11even nightclub in Miami, Florida.
  • On March 4, 2026, Piunno shared photos on Instagram confirming her relationship with Matthews.

The players

Auston Matthews

The captain of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team and a star player for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL.

Vanessa Piunno

A certified skincare specialist and entrepreneur who is the girlfriend of Auston Matthews.

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What they’re saying

“A month to remember forever ❤️❤️”

— Vanessa Piunno (Instagram)

What’s next

Matthews and the U.S. men's hockey team are expected to be honored at the White House in the coming weeks, though the exact date has not been announced.

The takeaway

Auston Matthews' relationship with Vanessa Piunno has become public knowledge after the U.S. men's hockey team's gold medal triumph at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The high-profile couple's celebration of the historic win has captured the attention of sports fans.