US Women's Hockey Stars Joke About Men's Team on SNL After Trump Controversy

Olympic gold medalists from both teams appeared together on Saturday Night Live amid recent political backlash.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Players from the U.S. men's and women's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey teams appeared together on "Saturday Night Live" amid recent controversy over President Donald Trump's joke about inviting both teams to the State of the Union address. The women's players, including Hilary Knight and Megan Keller, made light of the situation and the men's team's response, while the men's players, including Jack and Quinn Hughes, expressed their support and pride for the women's accomplishments.

Why it matters

The appearance on SNL and the players' comments highlight the ongoing tensions and rivalries between the men's and women's national hockey teams, as well as the broader political and social dynamics surrounding elite sports in the U.S. The controversy also raises questions about how athletes should navigate political issues and the role of the media in covering these stories.

The details

During the SNL skit, Hilary Knight joked about the men's team being invited to join the women, referencing Trump's original quip. Knight also delivered a playful jab at the men's team, noting that the women had won gold more recently than the men. The men's players, including Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal against Canada, expressed their respect and support for the women's team, saying they had attended the women's games and celebrated their success.

  • The men's team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
  • The women's team won gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
  • The SNL appearance took place on March 1, 2026.

The players

Hilary Knight

A member of the U.S. women's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team.

Megan Keller

A member of the U.S. women's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team.

Jack Hughes

A member of the U.S. men's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team who scored the game-winning goal against Canada.

Quinn Hughes

A member of the U.S. men's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team and the brother of Jack Hughes.

Ellen Hughes

The mother of Jack and Quinn Hughes, a former Team USA player, and a current member of the player development staff.

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What they’re saying

“It was going to be just us, but we thought we'd invite the guys, too.”

— Hilary Knight (Saturday Night Live)

“Nice burn. These gold medals aren't just for us, they're for all hockey fans.”

— Jack Hughes (Saturday Night Live)

“We are hanging out with them so much, the women's team. We were supporting them. Like, we were at their games, they were at our games.”

— Jack Hughes (The Pat McAfee Show)

“I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke, and, unfortunately, that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats.”

— Hilary Knight, U.S. women's hockey captain (SportsCenter)

“We're just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men's and women's at the same time. And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.”

— Hilary Knight, U.S. women's hockey captain (SportsCenter)

What’s next

The U.S. women's and men's hockey teams are expected to continue their rivalry and support for one another as they prepare for the 2030 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The takeaway

The appearance of the U.S. women's and men's hockey teams on SNL highlights the ongoing tensions and rivalries between elite athletes, as well as the broader political and social dynamics surrounding sports in the U.S. However, the players' comments also demonstrate their mutual respect and pride in each other's accomplishments, underscoring the unity and camaraderie that can exist within the American hockey community.