The US Women's hockey team is starting a fresh and dramatic episode after winning gold at this year's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
They beat out Canada and are now making headlines for reportedly declining an invitation to attend President Trump's State of the Union address in Washington DC. This invitation comes after Trump called the US men's Hockey Team inside their locker room following their own gold-medal victory, and joked around about how he would have to invite the women's team too or risk impeachment.
{img}The women's team thanked the president for his recognition regarding their win, but mentioned how they would not be attending due to some previously scheduled commitments after returning from the Games.
This decision was framed as logistical instead of political, though the joke in the men's locker room and the manner in which the invite was given drew attention and backlash online.
{img}Both the men's and the women's US hockey teams won gold against Canada in their respective Olympic finals. The women's team triumph was their first gold since the year 2018.