Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers Visit White House, Donald Trump

During the first presidency of Donald Trump, many championship-winning teams decided not to visit the White House. Or, in some cases, Trump refused to invite a team knowing that they would decline. 

But the Florida Panthers, the 2024 Stanley Cup Champions, became the first team to be invited, and accept, the invitation during Trump's second term. 

On Monday, the team attended the standard championship ceremony and presented President Trump with a custom-made #47 Panthers jersey. 

Obviously, the NHL isn't the league that features the teams that are likely to decline a White House invitation, regardless if it comes from Donald Trump. 

The biggest questions surround whether the NBA champions, or the NFL champions, are invited and elect to attend. 

Certainly, we'd expect that the WNBA champions won't visit a Trump White House, given that one of the league's stars recently donned a shirt with "The F*** Donald Trump Tour" emblazoned on the front. 

That player, DiJonai Carrington, also said that the WNBA needs to "take action" against Trump because they believe he is going to "take away" rights from women and LGBTQ individuals. 

Of course, Carrington didn't mention specific policies. 

However, the Florida Panthers had no problem accepting the invitation and the players appeared to have a good time hanging out with Donald Trump. 

All of that remains to be seen. For now, the Florida Panthers are the first team to head to the White House after a championship victory. 

Will they be the only team to do so in 2025? 

Stay tuned. 

Written by

Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.