The United States women’s hockey team is set to celebrate their gold medal victory at the Milan Cortina Olympics with rapper Flavor Flav in Las Vegas from July 16-19. Flavor Flav announced this special event through his X account, sharing a note from the sports media brand The GIST, which will help host the “She Got Game” weekend event in collaboration with MGM Resorts. This gathering intends to honor the women’s hockey team alongside other female athletes, although further details are pending.
The invitation to Flavor Flav was accepted by the women’s team independently, without involvement from USA Hockey. Those familiar with the discussions indicated that while the team is enthusiastic about participating, not all 23 players might be able to attend due to conflicting schedules.
In the backdrop of the celebration, the women’s team is still determining whether to visit the White House. USA Hockey previously declined an invitation extended to the women’s team by President Donald Trump, citing logistical challenges as the reason. Trump had invited the team to join the men’s gold medal-winning hockey team during the State of the Union address, creating a media stir.
Flavor Flav has been a consistent supporter of women’s sports, attending several Olympic competitions this month. He called for a genuine celebration for the U.S. women’s hockey team soon after they declined the trip to Washington. His message on social media emphasized the desire to host a proper celebration featuring dinners, shows, and enjoyable experiences dedicated to the women athletes.
The rapid arrangement of this event saw various brands expressing interest and support, with Alaska Airlines indicating a willingness to collaborate. The GIST, which aims for gender equity in sports coverage and boasts about 1 million newsletter subscribers, will serve as the event's official media partner. The GIST's co-founder, Jacie deHoop, noted that the event was directly inspired by comments made by Trump, which appeared to undermine the status of the women’s team by suggesting they were an afterthought.
DeHoop described the situation as disheartening, reflecting on the historical neglect faced by women’s sports, where they are often overshadowed and treated as secondary. The women’s hockey team had initially planned to travel commercially to New York, but an unexpected snowstorm in the Northeast forced a reroute to Atlanta as they were returning to their respective Professional Women’s Hockey League and college teams.
While the logistics of the White House visit remain uncertain, Trump mentioned plans to have the women’s team visit, although a timeframe is yet to be established. According to USA Hockey, the earliest opportunity for the team's visit could coincide with the conclusion of the PWHL season, expected in late spring.
Trump's invitation to the women's team came soon after congratulating the men’s team for their victory over Canada in overtime. His remarks about including the women’s team were met with criticism; U.S. women’s captain Hilary Knight labeled them as “distasteful and unfortunate,” highlighting the need for better representation and recognition of women in sports.
In summary, the upcoming event in Las Vegas symbolizes a significant acknowledgment of women’s achievements in sports, particularly in light of previous dismissals. The U.S. women’s hockey team's participation in this private celebration further underscores a commitment to championing female athletes and promoting their rightful place in the spotlight.
