Former Wisconsin Badgers hockey star Hilary Knight and five other Wisconsin Badgers on the United States women’s hockey team earned the gold medal in Milan with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada back on February 19th. It was the second Winter Olympics gold medal for Knight, who was on the 2018 women’s hockey team that won gold at PyeongChang. However, recent news has not been about the team's success but rather a joke from President Donald Trump.
One that Knight took offense to.
Hilary Knight pivots the narrative off President Trump’s impeachment joke
After the United States’ men's hockey team also defeated Canada by a 2-1 score in overtime, the Commander in Chief called the men’s team to congratulate them. On a speakerphone call, Trump stated, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” and later remarked that if he did not invite the team over, he would be impeached.
Knight, the former all-time points leader at Wisconsin, responded during a press conference on Wednesday that “the joke was distasteful and unfortunate," and found a way to pivot to elevating US Hockey instead of political divisiveness.
Hilary Knight: “It’s a great teaching point to really shine light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats. And now I sort of have to sit, or anybody has to sit in front of you and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility.” pic.twitter.com/OrxBVgvMOP
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) February 25, 2026
Knight also appeared on ESPN, where she again called the joke “distasteful” but also made sure to state how important this gold medal was not only for women’s hockey but for American hockey in general.
“We're just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men's and women's at the same time.”
Her comments got a resounding applause from the room because instead of intentionally leaning into a tit-for-tat situation. Name calling or divisiveness which would have been so easy to do, she instead used her platform to elevate both women's and men's hockey gold medals.
The United States women’s hockey team finished with an undefeated record in the 2026 Winter Olympics. It was the first time the American women finished with the gold medal without a loss since 1998. For Knight, the all-time goals leader among all USA hockey players, she leaves behind a strong legacy not only for Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey players but for all women’s hockey players.
One no joke that can take away.