Women’s Hockey Gold Medalist Defends Men’s Team

Just days after Team USA’s men’s hockey squad found itself in the middle of a political firestorm, women’s gold medalist Abbey Murphy is setting the record straight — and she’s not buying the outrage.

The University of Minnesota star, who helped power the U.S. to gold in Milan with two goals and five assists, says the narrative that the men’s team disrespected the women is flat-out wrong. The controversy erupted after cameras caught some male players laughing when President Donald Trump joked that he would “have” to invite the women’s team to the State of the Union following the men’s dramatic win over Canada.

Critics pounced. Headlines exploded. Social media lit up.

But according to Murphy, the story doesn’t match reality.

Speaking on Barstool’s Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Murphy shared what she called one of her favorite memories from the Milan Cortina Games — and it paints a very different picture.

After the men’s gold medal game, both teams gathered in the Olympic Village dining hall. Murphy said the first players they ran into were Brady Tkachuk, Connor Hellebuyck and Charlie McAvoy — and the energy was pure celebration.

McAvoy, she recalled, had his goggles perched on his head and “the biggest smile on his face,” greeting every member of the women’s team with hugs. The two squads ended up sitting together for nearly two and a half hours, laughing, joking and soaking in the moment until around 3 a.m.

Jack Eichel reportedly led chants. Tage Thompson cracked jokes. The vibe, Murphy said, was unforgettable.

“To be there with them and experience all those things was some of the best moments I’ll remember,” she said, adding that representing the country alongside the men’s team was a “huge honor.”

That’s why, when the backlash hit, Murphy said she was disappointed — not at the players, but at the controversy itself.

“We never felt anything bad from them,” she said. “It’s sad that they even have to apologize for anything. It really is.”

The uproar grew after debate swirled over the men’s visit to the White House and the State of the Union. Several players faced pointed questions once they returned to NHL action. Some pundits framed the laughter as dismissive of the women’s team’s accomplishments.

Women’s hockey legend Hilary Knight also addressed the moment on ESPN, calling the joke “distasteful” but defending the men as being put in a tough spot. She emphasized that the mutual respect between the programs is real — even if a split-second reaction became headline fuel.

Meanwhile, the women’s team declined the State of the Union invitation. USA Hockey later said they plan to visit the White House at a later date, once schedules allow, to celebrate their gold medal run.

For Murphy, though, the takeaway isn’t politics. It’s partnership.

“They’re a special group,” she said of the men’s team. “We know how much they respect us and we respect them. It definitely goes two ways.”

In a week dominated by outrage cycles and viral clips, one thing seems clear: inside Team USA’s locker rooms, the bond between gold medal squads is stronger than the noise outside.