SEATTLE — The four Torrent players who won Olympic gold for Team USA were welcomed back from Italy with a celebration at the Space Needle on Wednesday. City Council members, the Seattle Sports Commission, media members and even two-time FIFA World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe gathered in the Puget Sound Room overlooking Chihuly Garden and Glass and Elliott Bay to receive Torrent captain Hilary ...

Seattle Torrent players, from left, Hilary Knight, Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka and Alex Carpenter pose for photos while wearing their gold medals after a press conference at the Space Needle Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Seattle.

Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times/TNS

SEATTLE — The four Torrent players who won Olympic gold for Team USA were welcomed back from Italy with a celebration at the Space Needle on Wednesday.

City Council members, the Seattle Sports Commission, media members and even two-time FIFA World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe gathered in the Puget Sound Room overlooking Chihuly Garden and Glass and Elliott Bay to receive Torrent captain Hilary Knight, forward Alex Carpenter, forward Hannah Bilka and defender Cayla Barnes.

The four Olympians donned their new, shiny gold medals, which they earned with a 2-1 win against Canada last Thursday. Knight, also captain for Team USA, scored the game-tying goal in the final two minutes of the title game to force overtime, a “storybook” ending, per Rapinoe, for the forward’s fifth and final Olympic run. The goal made Knight, also known as “Captain America,” the record-holder for the most career goals (15) and points (33) in U.S. Olympic women’s hockey history.

Knight was named the United States’ flag bearer for the Winter Olympics’ closing ceremony Sunday.

The event could not avoid the recent controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s phone call to the U.S. men’s hockey team following their own gold medal win against Canada on Sunday.

“We are giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night,” the President said over speakerphone to the players during their locker room celebration. “I can send a military plane or something, but if you would like to (come) … we’ll get Kash or we’ll get the military to come get you over.”

Trump added: “We have to, I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. (If not), I do believe I would probably be impeached,” which received a round of laughs from the men’s players.

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Seattle Torrent defender Cayla Barnes wears her gold medal around her neck after a press conference at the Space Needle Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Seattle.

Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times/TNS

Trump’s comment, and the men’s players’ reception, has been perceived by some as mockery toward the women and downplaying their success.

The U.S. women’s team declined the invitation to the White House shortly after, citing logistics.

Rapinoe addressed the controversy in her congratulatory speech: “You know I’m not going to let (that phone call) slide, obviously. What was so clear to me about that phone call was that it had nothing to do with you and said nothing about you. The thing that I took (away) was immediately, I was like, ‘Oh, I know how I feel about (the men’s team), though.’

“I think everybody who saw that clip or who watched that moment said, ‘Hell, no.’ You might not be for everybody, whatever, but you are for us. You are ours here in Seattle, (and) you are ours here in America. Thank you for just this incredible moment that you gave us that will be memories for the rest of our lives.”

She added later: “You are a champion now, and nobody can say [expletive] about that.”

Knight spoke out about the incident after days of silence from the U.S. women’s players and USA hockey organization.

“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,” she said. “Just the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point to really shine light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats, and now I have to sort of sit in front of you and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility.

“These women are amazing, and whatever is going on shouldn’t ever outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage. This was the best American women’s hockey team, the best American team, we’ve ever put together on a world stage when the lights were the brightest.”

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Seattle Torrent players, from left, Cayla Barnes, Hilary Knight, Hannah Bilka and Alex Carpenter clap during their gold medal press conference at the Space Needle Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Seattle.

Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times/TNS

Hip-hop artist Flavor Flav extended an invite to the women’s hockey team Monday via X, and later all of the women Winter Olympians, to come to Las Vegas for “a real celebration” and “some nice dinners and shows and good times.”

The Torrent confirmed their plans and excitement to celebrate with Flavor Flav in Las Vegas during the offseason.

“I’ve been messaging him a little bit here,” Alex Carpenter said. “He’s probably my most texted person right now. It was definitely super special after everything that’s been going around online to be able to have someone step up like that and really go to bat for us. Obviously, we will finish our seasons up here, and then I think we’re fully going to take advantage of that and go have some fun and celebrate like we deserve to.”

Added Knight: “We will be well fed and well hydrated (by Flavor Flav).”

The Torrent players kick off the second half of their PWHL season on Friday at home against the Toronto Sceptres.

The bright lights of the Winter Olympics and the success of the grandest stage should increase interest around the Torrent in their inaugural PWHL season, according to the players.

“People would only rediscover or recognize us once every four years,” Knight said. “Now we have a consistent place to play. We’re continuing to increase visibility and also marketability of the sport, draw new eyes and continue to grow our fan base. (We are) also keeping our amazing fans engaged and giving them somewhere to watch us play and do amazing things together. I am really looking forward to having some of that Olympic attention continue to progress into the professional league.”