Tate McRae and Jack Hughes: Everything We Know About the Most Talked-About Rumored Couple of 2026
The Tate McRae and Jack Hughes dating rumor is the pop culture story that will not slow down. Ever since the New Jersey Devils center scored the overtime gold-medal-winning goal for Team USA against Canada at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 22, 2026 ET, both stars have been trending simultaneously — and the question of whether Tate McRae is Jack Hughes' girlfriend has taken over social media worldwide.
How the Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Rumor Started
The Tate McRae and Jack Hughes rumored love story started the way any good celebrity couple gets launched — with a Deuxmoi post. The celebrity gossip site shared a photo of McRae on a romantic dinner date in New York City's West Village on November 21, 2025. It took a moment to identify Hughes as her companion — the site initially referred to him as an unknown man with a broken arm. Hockey fans were quick to point out Hughes had an arm injury at that time, and it was indeed him in the photo.
A month later, McRae was seen in the stands during a New Jersey Devils game, cheering on Hughes, further fueling speculation. Observers also spotted them walking through New York City together, smiling and laughing. Neither star confirmed or denied a thing — and their silence only intensified public fascination.
Jack Hughes Wins Olympic Gold — and Tate McRae Immediately Trends
On February 22, 2026 ET, Hughes scored the gold-medal-winning goal in overtime against Team Canada, ending a 46-year drought for the U.S. men's hockey team. Within seconds of the puck crossing the goal line, Tate McRae began trending on X — before the celebration on the ice had even finished. The Canada-versus-USA angle made the rumored relationship impossible to ignore.
McRae — a proudly Canadian artist — had already drawn controversy weeks earlier by appearing in an NBC promotional video for the Milan Cortina Olympics expressing enthusiasm for Team USA. She later clarified she was still supporting Canada, writing publicly that fans should know she is "Canada down." The contradiction fueled weeks of pointed online commentary from Canadian hockey fans.
Tate McRae's Cryptic Instagram Post After the Gold Medal Game
McRae went silent on social media throughout the men's hockey tournament, fueling speculation she may have been in Italy supporting Hughes behind the scenes. After the gold medal game ended, she broke her silence and reemerged on Instagram Stories for the first time since the victory.
She shared a sun-kissed selfie on Instagram Stories with two telling emojis tucked into the corner — a goat, a nod to Hughes' "Greatest of All Time" achievement, and a pink heart with a blue arrow, often interpreted as a "lovestruck" symbol. The post seemed to quietly celebrate Hughes' triumph, even as both stars avoided any public statement about their relationship.
Quinn Hughes Likes the Post — and Fans Lose Their Minds
Jack Hughes' older brother Quinn Hughes — Team USA's captain and a star defenseman in his own right — liked an Instagram post suggesting Jack and McRae could be a couple. Fans have read significant meaning into the small gesture, treating it as the closest thing to a family endorsement the internet has received so far.
Jack Hughes has yet to comment on the McRae rumors at all. He has maintained complete silence on his personal life since returning to North America following the Olympics, keeping his off-ice world firmly private.
Who Is Tate McRae? Who Is Jack Hughes?
Tate McRae is a 22-year-old Canadian singer, songwriter, and dancer who has become one of the fastest-rising pop stars globally. She began dancing at age six and later gained millions of followers through YouTube before signing a major recording deal. Her 2025 Billboard 200 number-one album So Close to What and Grammy-nominated single "Just Keep Watching" cemented her as one of pop's biggest names. Her most recently confirmed relationship was with The Kid LAROI, whom she split from in mid-2025 after about a year of dating.
Jack Hughes is a 24-year-old center for the New Jersey Devils, the former number-one overall NHL Draft pick and one of the league's most electrifying young forwards. He lost two front teeth scoring the golden goal in Milan — a detail that somehow only added to his overnight hero status. His brothers Quinn Hughes and Luke Hughes are also current NHL players.
Are Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Actually Dating?
The answer is: unconfirmed, but the evidence keeps stacking up. Neither Tate McRae nor Jack Hughes — nor their camps — have denied a romantic spark between the pair, nor have they been officially linked to anyone else since their November dinner date in New York City.
Some believe McRae and Hughes may no longer be dating, given that she did not publicly celebrate his Olympic success. Others argue it would not have been a good look for her to show Hughes support while he was beating her home country for an Olympic gold medal. Until either star steps forward to confirm or deny, the Tate McRae and Jack Hughes relationship will remain the rumor that has captured two countries — and millions of fans — at once.
