U.S. Olympic gold medalist Brady Tkachuk responded after a White House TikTok video used AI-generated audio to make it appear he insulted Canadians following the United States’ 2-1 overtime victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The video was labeled as containing AI-generated media, but Tkachuk said the voice was not his and did not reflect his character. Speaking in Ottawa, the Senators captain emphasized his respect for both countries and denied also shouting comments about closing the northern border during a celebratory phone call with President Donald Trump. Tkachuk, who has spent his entire NHL career in Canada’s capital, said he gives everything to the city while proudly representing the United States internationally. Both the U.S. men’s and women’s teams won Olympic gold, later visiting the White House. Tkachuk said he hopes the focus remains on the team’s historic achievement rather than a fake video.

New Florida coach Jon Sumrall has yet to coach a game for the Gators, but rival jabs have already provided motivation. At Steve Spurrier’s annual dinner in Gainesville, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Miami’s Mario Cristobal made playful comments about Florida’s recent struggles, including coaching turnover and last season’s 41-17 loss to Miami. Sumrall laughed along but has built a reputation for using perceived slights as fuel. He previously turned around struggling programs at Troy and Tulane, leading Tulane to back-to-back conference title games and a 2025 championship. Known for motivating his teams with an edge, Sumrall once referenced disrespect toward New Orleans after Tulane dominated Northwestern. Florida believes it has the talent to compete despite recent near-misses against Georgia and inconsistent performances. With a November matchup against Georgia looming in Atlanta, the Gators hope to transform offseason jokes into on-field results under their new coach.

US women's hockey captain Hilary Knight wasn't thrilled with President Trump's joke about inviting them to the State of the Union, feeling it detracted from their huge Olympic gold win. She mentioned they'd already passed on a White House trip due to scheduling, emphasizing their focus was on celebrating their historic achievement as a team.

Former Jason Kelce criticized the officiating during the USA vs. Canada women’s hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, calling some decisions confusing and inconsistent. Speaking on the New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Travis Kelce, Jason expressed frustration over missed calls in the tense matchup. Despite his concerns, Team USA secured a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory after defender Megan Keller scored the game-winning goal. The win clinched gold for the U.S. women’s team, and the men’s team followed with their own gold-medal victory over Canada two days later. While critical of the referees, Kelce praised both U.S. teams for their achievements, celebrating the rare Olympic hockey sweep and the intense rivalry that defined the final.

The Indiana Pacers were fined $100,000 by the NBA for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy after Aaron Nesmith missed a Feb. 3 loss to the Utah Jazz. Head coach Rick Carlisle publicly disagreed with the decision, saying Nesmith was legitimately injured and unable to play after getting hurt the previous night. The NBA stated that an independent doctor led the review and that team executives were consulted, adding that Indiana indicated interviews with Carlisle or team doctors were unnecessary. Carlisle said he was shocked by the process and felt the team’s medical perspective was not fully considered, particularly when asked whether Nesmith could have taken medication to participate. The Pacers, who have struggled to a 15-43 record following last year’s Finals appearance, have dealt with multiple injuries, including Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury. The dispute adds tension to an already difficult season for Indiana.

Fresh off their Super Bowl 60 victory, the Seattle Seahawks have quickly shifted from celebration mode to offseason preparation. General manager John Schneider said the “instant reset” came just days after the championship parade, as the front office moved directly into draft meetings and free agency planning. At the NFL scouting combine, Schneider addressed online buzz surrounding running back Kenneth Walker III after joking during the parade that Walker had tried to negotiate a new contract. Walker later denied the claim on Instagram, and Schneider clarified he was kidding, adding that the team would love to keep him. Walker, 25, is coming off a dominant Super Bowl MVP performance with 135 rushing yards in the win over New England and is now entering free agency. With several other key players also nearing free agency, Seattle faces difficult roster decisions as it looks to defend its title.

Team USA men’s hockey captain Quinn Hughes confirmed the team plans to attend President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address after receiving an invitation following their gold medal victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Hughes shared the news on Good Morning America, saying the team looks forward to the experience. Trump invited the players during a congratulatory locker room call after their win over Canada, offering a White House tour and military flight. The invitation sparked mixed reactions online, especially after the U.S. women’s hockey team, which also won gold, chose not to attend. Rapper Flavor Flav later offered to host the women’s team for a separate celebration. Hughes emphasized the men fully support the women’s program and do not want political differences to create division. Both teams, along with their families, stressed unity and mutual respect despite public backlash.

The U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to attend the State of the Union address, citing prior academic and professional commitments. Both the men’s and women’s teams were invited after winning gold in Milan, but only the women have formally confirmed they will not attend.

Eli Manning responded calmly after not being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second consecutive year, saying the snub does not bother him. Speaking on Jon Gruden’s show, the former New York Giants quarterback said he is not bitter and will accept induction if it ever comes. Manning played 16 NFL seasons, finishing with a 117-117 regular-season record and four Pro Bowl selections. Critics often point to his inconsistent regular-season performance, but supporters highlight his remarkable postseason résumé. Manning led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories over Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots, earning Super Bowl MVP honors in both games, including the memorable upset in Super Bowl XLII. While debate continues among fans about his Hall of Fame worthiness, Manning appears content with his legacy as one of the most clutch quarterbacks in Super Bowl history and remains unfazed by the voting outcome.

No. 1 UConn delivered a dominant 81-38 victory over Providence on senior day at Gampel Pavilion, improving to 29-0 overall and 18-0 in Big East play. The Huskies extended their winning streak to 45 games, one shy of the NCAA record, fueled by relentless defensive pressure that forced 39 turnovers and produced 26 steals. KK Arnold recorded eight steals, while Jana El Alfy grabbed 16 rebounds. Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd each scored 13 points as UConn built a commanding 40-14 halftime lead and never allowed Providence to recover. Seniors Caroline Ducharme, Fudd, Ayanna Patterson and Serah Williams were honored, recognized for a class that has compiled a 159-21 record with three Final Four appearances and one national championship. Providence fell to 14-15 despite nine points from Payton Dunbar. With the regular season ending, UConn enters the postseason unbeaten and positioned for another championship push.