The U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team, fresh off a gold medal performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, delivered a pointed message to former President Donald Trump during a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live. The team, along with members of the U.S. Men’s National Hockey Team, joined host Connor Storrie on stage to address Trump’s past comments regarding their Olympic success, turning a comedic moment into a subtle but firm rebuke.
The incident unfolded during Storrie’s monologue, where he was discussing his role as Ilya Rozanov in the Canadian television series Heated Rivalry, a show centered around the relationship between two hockey players. Storrie joked about learning to *look* like a hockey player for the role, contrasting his experience with the skill of the actual Olympic athletes. “I am just so thankful for everything this job gives me the chance to do. Like, in two weeks I had the chance to learn how to speak Russian and look like I knew how to play hockey,” Storrie said. “And then I’m watching the Olympics, and I see these amazing players, and I’m like, ‘I don’t think I pulled it off.’”
Storrie was joined on stage by Team USA hockey players Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes. The conversation then took an unexpected turn when Megan Keller and Hilary Knight, both gold medalists from the 2026 Olympic team, joined them. Knight referenced a phone call Trump made after the men’s team won their gold medal, where he stated, “we’re going to have to bring the women’s team.”
“It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the guys, too,” Knight quipped, a clear reference to Trump’s seemingly afterthought invitation to the women’s team. The moment drew applause from the audience and highlighted the team’s frustration with what they perceived as a dismissive remark. Hilary Knight later told SportsCenter that Trump’s “distasteful joke” was “overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats.”
A Response to a Past Remark
The incident stems from comments made by Trump following the U.S. Women’s hockey team’s victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Reports at the time indicated that Trump’s invitation to the White House felt less than enthusiastic, with his remark about “having to” invite the women’s team perceived as belittling their achievement. The U.S. Women’s team subsequently declined the invitation.
Storrie’s Role and the Show’s Popularity
Storrie, 26, gained significant recognition for his role in Heated Rivalry, a series that has garnered a dedicated following, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. He acknowledged the show’s impact during his monologue, stating, “OK, now, some of you may have seen literally all of me on my show Heated Rivalry…It’s a show that has taught a lot of people about hockey, and it’s taught a lot of straight women that their sexuality is actually gay guy.” He playfully shared a brief clip from the show, a one-second shot of his character simply saying “OK,” to the amusement of the audience.
Varying Reactions from the Men’s Team
While the women’s team made a clear statement on SNL, reactions from the men’s team were reportedly more varied, according to The Athletic. The report details a range of responses, from quiet support of the women’s team to a desire to avoid political statements altogether.
The appearance on Saturday Night Live provided a platform for the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team to address a perceived slight and underscore their accomplishments on the world stage. It also highlighted the growing cultural impact of hockey, fueled in part by the popularity of shows like Heated Rivalry, and the ongoing conversation surrounding gender equality in sports.
The U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team is scheduled to participate in a series of exhibition games this fall as they begin preparations for the 2028 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Details regarding the schedule and locations will be released by USA Hockey in the coming weeks.
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