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Hip-hop artist Flavor Flav wants to throw a party in Las Vegas for the United States women’s hockey team after winning Olympic gold against Canada at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
And it appears he’s doing so after seeing President Donald Trump’s invitation to the team for his State of the Union address Tuesday night, which the team declined citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
Flavor Flav, real name Williams Jonathan Drayton Jr., shared the official invitation sent to USA Hockey.
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Ja Rule and Flavor Flav perform onstage during the City of Hope Music, Film and Entertainment Industry’s 2023 Spirit of Life® Gala honoring Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube and Google at Pacific Design Center on October 18, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. (Lester Cohen/Getty Images for City of Hope)
The “not-quite-invitation” the email likely refers to refers to Trump’s phone call with the men’s hockey team on Sunday after their gold medal victory over Canada, which went the same way in overtime as the women’s on the Olympic stage.
Trump invited the men’s hockey team to the State of the Union address, where he added: “I have to tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you know that.”
Trump also joked, “I think I’d probably be impeached” if he didn’t invite the women’s team as well as the men’s team.
The women’s team declined the invitation a day after Trump’s call.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation to our gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” USA Hockey told NBC News. “Due to the schedule and planned academic and professional commitments after the Games, athletes are unable to participate.
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for this recognition.”
The gold medal-winning United States team poses after the medal ceremony for the women’s ice hockey following the women’s gold medal match between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the women’s team declining the invitation from PK Press Club Digital.
Flavor Flav’s original social media post said he would be “having great dinners, shows and good times” with the team, while hoping that “a hotel and airline” could help him celebrate their accomplishments. He also wanted to “also invite my Bobsled + Skeleton team,” which has won a record six Olympic medals in bobsleigh.
Meanwhile, the men’s hockey team arrived in Florida on Monday hours after winning their gold medal. They flew to Miami International Airport where the festivities would immediately begin. They are expected to be at E11VEN MIAMI nightclub later Monday evening.
FLAVOR FLAV HELPS OLYMPIC ATHLETE PAY US RENT AFTER CALLS FOR HELP ON SOCIAL MEDIA
“We’re going to party for a few days,” Jack Hughes, who scored the overtime winner Sunday in Milan, told reporters at the airport.
This isn’t the first time Flavor Flav has wanted to celebrate an American athlete, having helped Olympic discus thrower Veronica Fraley pay her rent when she struggled financially before representing the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I got it, send me a private message and I will send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry about it TOMORROW, and I will support you tomorrow LETZ GO!” Flavor Flav posted on X under his post.
Flavor Flav of Public Enemy performs during the Innings Festival at Tempe Beach & Arts Park on February 22, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage)
While Flavor Flav got the ball rolling for Fraley, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the husband of tennis great Serena Williams, also helped out, posting a receipt for more than $7,000 sent to Fraley. Flavor Flav claimed that because 10 million people saw his tweet, his rent was “paid for the year.”
As for the women’s hockey team, they return home with some ready to resume their professional careers, with the Women’s Professional Hockey League resuming its schedule Thursday evening. The NHL will begin play Wednesday night for the second half of the season.
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