Stanley Tucci and the Fallout: How Team USA’s Locker‑Room Laughter Shifted the Spotlight onto the Women’s Olympic Gold Medalists

Who feels the impact first is the women’s hockey team: their Olympic gold win has been reframed by a late‑celebration phone call and the locker‑room laughter that followed. stanley tucci appears in the headline for search purposes, but the real consequence is reputational — players who shared a locker room celebration are now parsing which reactions were appropriate and which amplified an unwelcome joke.

Immediate effects fall on the women’s team and teammates who now have to clarify their stance

Here’s the part that matters: the women’s team, which also won a gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics, has had its victory moment tugged into a political and cultural conversation after the phone call. Team members and leaders from the men’s side have spent several days backing the women’s accomplishments while also acknowledging missteps in how they reacted during the call.

Stanley Tucci and the wider attention: what happened in the room

Members of the U. S. men’s hockey team were celebrating their gold medal victory over Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics when President Donald Trump phoned them and mentioned an invitation to Tuesday’s State of the Union address. He joked that he would "have" to invite the women’s hockey team — who also won gold — or else "I do believe I probably would be impeached. " That joke drew audible laughter in the locker room; video captured the moment and criticism followed.

Player responses, remorse and defense

Several players offered public responses that vary in tone and degree. Backup goalie Jeremy Swayman said Wednesday that the team "should've reacted differently, " and emphasized that the men are excited for and respectful of the women’s team and grateful to share the gold medal with them. Charlie McAvoy apologized Thursday, saying he is "certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment, " and stressing that the men’s relationships with the women and the time they spent together aren’t reflected by the laughter.

Jake Sanderson, identified as a player for the Ottawa Senators, called the reaction "a mistake" while also saying that "things got blown out of proportion" and noting that the teams socialize together. Jack Hughes, who scored Team USA’s gold‑winning overtime goal, has repeatedly expressed support for the women’s team but, when asked if he agreed with Swayman that they "should've reacted differently, " said "it is what it is. " Other members of the men’s team have not publicly taken back the laughter.

Context, guests on the call, and outside voices

The moment was amplified because an FBI director, Kash Patel, who was a guest of the men’s team, placed the call that was captured on video. The women’s team captain, Hilary Knight, said she did not want what she called a "distasteful" joke to overshadow their gold medal; she suggested the episode could be a learning point about how we talk about women in sport and industry and that women’s achievements should stand on their own.

Most of the U. S. men’s team attended the State of the Union on Tuesday night; the women’s team declined the invitation, citing scheduling issues. Team USA men’s captain Auston Matthews — who is also captain for his NHL club — was not seen during the State of the Union speech and called the situation "unfortunate, " reiterating the men’s support for the women’s team in a pregame interview Wednesday.

• Jeremy Swayman: said the team "should've reacted differently" and expressed respect and gratitude for sharing the gold medal.
• Charlie McAvoy: apologized for the locker‑room response and defended the men’s longstanding support of the women.
• Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators): labeled the reaction a "mistake" and said it was blown out of proportion.
• Jack Hughes: supported the women but gave a measured comment—"it is what it is"—when asked about changing the reaction.
• FBI Director Kash Patel: was the guest who placed the phone call captured on video.

Small human note: Meredith Gaudreau, identified in coverage as the widow of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau, appeared on a morning program to discuss a tribute the teams paid while celebrating their Olympic gold on the same day as her son’s second birthday.

It’s easy to overlook, but several athletes referenced specific recent game moments when reflecting on the tournament: one player said his first thought after scoring was about Megan Keller, who scored the women’s golden goal against Canada three days earlier; another player had scored an overtime goal against Sweden in the prior week. Photographic coverage referenced action at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on day eight (Feb. 14, 2026) and day 16 (Feb. 22, 2026) of the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Key takeaways:

• The locker‑room laughter followed a presidential phone call that mentioned inviting the women’s team to the State of the Union.
• Players have mixed public reactions: apologies, regret, and some defensiveness coexist.
• The women’s team declined the State of the Union invitation, citing scheduling conflicts; the president later said they would visit the White House in due time.
• The presence of a guest caller, Kash Patel, and video of the exchange intensified scrutiny.

Micro timeline (compressed):

• Feb. 14, 2026 — Action noted at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (day eight of the Olympics).
• Three days before the men’s overtime winner — the women’s golden goal was scored by Megan Keller against Canada.
• Feb. 22, 2026 — Men’s gold medal match action at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (day 16); presidential call and subsequent reactions followed, with attendance choices at the State of the Union coming after.

The real question now is whether the episode will be a brief reputational sting or prompt longer conversations inside the teams and the broader hockey community about public conduct and how victories are celebrated. A few players have tried to contain the damage with apologies and affirmations of respect; others have pushed back. That split is likely the clearest immediate impact on both teams and on public perception.

Writer’s aside: what’s easy to miss is how tightly connected teammates’ public statements and private relationships are when a moment like this becomes public; the split between apology and defense often reflects different approaches to managing sudden criticism, not necessarily gaps in team unity.

Isabel Yip is identified as a news associate in the material accompanying these accounts. Recent updates indicate some players regret the reaction; details may continue to evolve.