Want to congratulate US women's hockey Olympic gold? Call this number.
Want to congratulate US women's hockey Olympic gold? Call this number.
Melina Khan, USA TODAYFri, February 27, 2026 at 12:04 PM UTC
50
The U.S. women's hockey team is getting the recognition it deserves, this time thanks to a different type of phone call.
This week, the public relations firm Jennifer Bett Communications (JBC) and Cosmopolitan launched a phone hotline for fans to leave voicemails congratulating the team on its Olympic gold medal win.
It comes after days of controversy shrouded the team's thrilling overtime victory over Canada on Feb. 19.
After the U.S. men's hockey team accomplished the same feat three days later, President Donald Trump called the players to offer congratulations and a controversial joke about the women.
When the president said he planned to invite the men's players to the White House, he added that he would also have to extend the same offer to the women's team. If he didn't, he said, "I probably would be impeached." Videos of the incident shared on social media showed the men's players laughing in response.
The call sparked backlash from fans and other athletes alike, who argued that the comment diminished the women's team's incredible feat.
In an effort to dial in on the gold medal moment, the new phone hotline is giving fans a way to celebrate the team.
"We launched this because we refused to let a single moment pass where these women felt their gold was anything less than the biggest story in the country. It's about closing the recognition gap — not with criticism, but with joy," Jennifer Meyer, the founder of JBC, said in an email statement to USA TODAY.
More: Hilary Knight says Trump's 'distasteful joke' overshadowing women’s hockey gold
1 / 0Relive USA’s thrilling gold‑medal OT win and celebration over CanadaPlayers of Team United States celebrate winning the gold medals after the team's 2-1 overtime victory in the Women's Gold Medal match between the United States and Canada on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy.How to leave a voicemail for the U.S. women's hockey team
Team USA celebrates winning the gold Medal in women’s ice hockey against Canada at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Feb. 19, 2026.
Fans can call 1-833-SHE-WON1, or 1-833-743-9661, to leave a voicemail celebrating the women's hockey team's gold medal win.
Advertisement
When dialed, the toll-free number prompts callers to leave a message congratulating the team. Meyer said her firm is monitoring the submissions "to ensure what reaches the players is a curated audio trophy of support."
JBC is also working to make sure the messages get to the team itself, Meyer said.
"We have a personal connection to the team and have already been in touch with the USA Hockey communications department to coordinate delivery," she said.
Callers include 7-year-old: 'I play hockey like you'
So far, the response to the hotline has been "overwhelming, in the best possible way," Meyer said.
Callers have ranged from youth hockey players, parents and other sports fans.
"The common thread in every message is pure, unfiltered pride. The response has turned this into a standing ovation in audio form," Meyer said.
Transcripts from some of the voicemails that JBC shared with USA TODAY echo the ovation.
"I am so proud of all of you. You guys are trailblazers. You guys are what I wanted to be when I grew up, but they didn't let girls play hockey back then. I am bursting with pride over what you've done. Congratulations. Don't let the haters win. We love you," one message said.
"Hi, my name is Claire. I'm seven years old. I play hockey like you. Congratulations for winning the gold," another said.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dial in congratulations for US women's hockey team with this hotline
Source: “AOL Sports”
