Auston Matthews, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Team USA hockey star, has made his relationship with girlfriend Vanessa Piunno public on Instagram just weeks after securing gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Instagram Debut Celebrates Gold Medal Triumph
Piunno, 26, shared photos capturing the couple’s joy following Team USA’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Canada in the final. One image shows Matthews, 28, with his arm around Piunno and the gold medal draped around his neck. Another blurry shot depicts him smiling while holding a glass of white wine as they embrace.
Piunno wore a jacket featuring Matthews’ name, an eagle emblem, and his number 34. She captioned the post: ‘A month to remember forever.’
Relationship Timeline and Piunno’s Background
The couple has been dating since 2025, with Piunno previously hinting at the romance through subtle social media posts showing Matthews from behind.
Piunno works as a medical aesthetician, certified in non-surgical treatments.
Matthews’ Pivotal Role in Olympic Victory
Matthews played a crucial part in Team USA’s gold medal run, culminating in the narrow win against rivals Canada.
Post-Gold Celebrations Spark Controversy
After the triumph, Matthews and his teammates celebrated at a Miami nightclub. They later visited President Donald Trump at the White House and attended the State of the Union address.
The White House visit drew scrutiny, occurring hours after Trump joked about the U.S. women’s hockey team, which also claimed gold. Team members laughed during a post-victory locker room call from FBI Director Kash Patel, who had access to the room.
