Boston Fleet Players Celebrate Olympic Gold, Brush Off Trump's Joke

U.S. women's hockey team focused on historic achievement, not presidential quip

Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:21pm

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Back home with their gold medals, Boston Fleet players who suited up for the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team say they're proud Americans still riding the high of victory and are not dwelling on President Trump's joke about inviting them to the White House. The players highlighted the strong bond between the men's and women's teams and the historic accomplishment of both winning gold at the same Olympics.

Why it matters

The U.S. women's hockey team's gold medal win is a landmark achievement, but the focus has shifted to President Trump's off-hand remark about inviting them to the White House. This highlights the ongoing challenges women's sports teams face in gaining equal recognition and respect compared to their male counterparts.

The details

After beating Canada in the gold medal game, the U.S. women's hockey team, including several Boston Fleet players, returned home to celebrate their victory. When President Trump called the U.S. men's team to congratulate them, he joked about also inviting the women's team, saying he'd probably be impeached if he didn't. Some saw this as a dismissive remark, while others viewed it as a jab at Trump's political opponents. The women's team chose to focus on their historic accomplishment rather than engage with the controversy.

  • The U.S. women's hockey team beat Canada in the gold medal game on February 20, 2026.
  • President Trump called the U.S. men's hockey team after their gold medal win over Canada.
  • The U.S. women's hockey team returned to Boston on February 25, 2026.

The players

Megan Keller

Captain of the Boston Fleet and a member of the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team who scored the overtime goal to clinch the gold medal.

Hilary Knight

A two-time gold medalist who played for Boston-based professional teams for eight seasons and holds the Olympic record for total points by a U.S. hockey player.

Haley Winn

A key defenseman for the Boston Fleet and the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team, scoring a goal and four points across seven Olympic games.

Jack Hughes

A member of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team who scored the overtime gold-winning goal.

Charlie McAvoy

A defenseman on the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team who has apologized for his reaction to President Trump's joke.

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What they’re saying

“But all I can say is I have never been more proud to put on the USA jersey, and I think for a lot of us, it is an honor of a lifetime to represent our country on the biggest stage. We went over there with one thing on mind: Bring home a gold medal for our country.”

— Megan Keller, Team Captain, Boston Fleet (Boston Herald)

“And, I think just the way women are represented, it's a great teaching point, and really shines light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.”

— Hilary Knight, Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist (Boston Herald)

“It's a big social media topic right now, as anything is. But at the end of the day, we both went there to do our job, and we both got that job done. … They were super supportive of us, came to a lot of our games, we went to their games. They were nothing but awesome to us.”

— Haley Winn, Defenseman, Boston Fleet and U.S. Women's Olympic Team (Boston Herald)

What’s next

USA Hockey said it is working to schedule a White House visit for the U.S. women's hockey team, though the details have not been finalized.

The takeaway

The U.S. women's hockey team's gold medal triumph is a landmark achievement that transcends any off-hand remarks. Their focus on representing their country with pride and the strong bond between the men's and women's teams are the true stories that should be celebrated.