US Women's Hockey Team to Celebrate Gold Medal with Flavor Flav in Las Vegas
The United States women's hockey team has secured a unique celebration for their gold medal victory from the Milan Cortina Olympics, with plans to party in Las Vegas this July, hosted by the iconic rapper Flavor Flav. This festive event comes after the team politely declined an invitation to visit the White House, citing logistical challenges and travel issues.
Flavor Flav Announces "She Got Game" Weekend Event
Under the bold heading "IT'S HAPPENING," Flavor Flav took to his X account on Thursday to announce the "She Got Game" weekend, scheduled from July 16-19. The event is being organized in partnership with MGM Resorts and aims to honor the women's hockey team alongside other female athletes. A publicist for Flavor Flav has confirmed the event, though specific details remain under wraps for now.
The rapper's post featured an enthusiastic picture of the US women's hockey players celebrating in a circle, highlighting his long-standing support for women's sports. Flavor Flav, who attended various Olympic competitions this month, extended his invitation shortly after the team turned down the trip to Washington, emphasizing his desire to host a genuine celebration.
Team's Independent Decision and Scheduling Challenges
According to a source familiar with the discussions, the women's players worked independently to accept Flavor Flav's invitation, without any input from USA Hockey. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the talks, revealed that while the team is excited to attend, it is uncertain if all 23 players will be present due to potential scheduling conflicts.
The team's return from the Olympics was already complicated by a snowstorm in the Northeast, forcing them to reroute through Atlanta instead of flying commercially to New York as planned. This disruption made it difficult for the players to adjust their schedules as they rejoined their Professional Women's Hockey League and college teams across the country.
White House Invitation and Political Backdrop
USA Hockey had cited logistics and travel issues in declining President Donald Trump's invitation for the women's team to join the US men's gold medal-winning team at his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. Trump extended the invitation late Sunday, following a congratulatory call to the men's team for their 2-1 overtime win over Canada.
In his address, Trump mentioned that plans were in the works for a White House visit, though USA Hockey indicated the earliest possibility would be in late spring after the conclusion of the PWHL season. During his speech, Trump joked that if he didn't extend the invitation, he might face impeachment, a comment that US women's captain Hilary Knight later described as "distasteful and unfortunate."
Flavor Flav's Enthusiastic Support for Female Athletes
Flavor Flav's invitation was met with enthusiasm, as he expressed his commitment to celebrating the women's achievements properly. In his social media post, he wrote, "If the USA Women's Hockey team wants a real celebration and invite, I'll host them in Las Vegas. Do some nice dinners and shows and good times. I'm sure I can get a hotel and airline to help me out here and celebrate these women for real for real."
This event not only marks a celebratory milestone for the team but also underscores the growing recognition and support for women's sports in the public eye. As the PWHL schedule resumes and college players open their conference playoffs, the Las Vegas celebration promises to be a highlight for the gold medalists.
