US hockey star Haley Winn’s brothers made viral videos to support women’s sports amid gold medal run

In a heartwarming display of family support that has captured global attention, U.S. hockey defender Haley Winn’s Olympic journey to gold was punctuated by her three older brothers’ exuberant and colorful cheering that became a viral sensation.

The Winn brothers—Casey, 29, Ryan, 27, and Tommy—transformed themselves into Team USA’s most recognizable fans during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, creating outlandish videos in patriotic outfits to support their sister and her teammates. Their efforts culminated in Thursday’s celebration of the American women’s 2-1 gold medal victory over Canada.

“It’s about them,” Ryan Winn told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It’s not about us.”

The siblings’ viral videos featured the brothers in American flag-patterned jackets with matching bucket hats, narrating game results and celebrating Haley’s first Olympic goal. In other clips, they donned red, white, and blue jumpsuits with bald eagle masks covering their heads, even simulating tabletop curling with an Aperol spritz and a napkin. Many videos were shot in the arena stands or outside their rented Milan apartment.

After Thursday’s victory, Haley—draped in an American flag—took a selfie with her gold medal as her brothers leaned over the rink’s railing. They immediately posted it with the caption, “She’s the best in the world.”

“You get a little emotional obviously seeing them here, just seeing all the videos of them,” Haley told AP after the winning game. “Obviously they’re the most supportive people on this planet.”

The gold medal game marked the seventh time the United States and Canada have faced off in an Olympic final since women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Nagano Games. The rivalry between the sport’s two dominant powers was particularly intense this year against a backdrop of heightened political tensions between the two nations.

All four Winn siblings grew up skating on their family’s backyard ice rink in Rochester, New York. While the brothers all played college hockey, they readily acknowledge that their quieter, more humble sister emerged as the true talent in the family.

“Haley just turned out to be the absolute beast out of all of us,” Ryan said. Casey added that she started on ice before she could even walk, “pushing a bucket around.” Ryan noted, “She always wanted to be the hardest worker. She always wanted to be competing against us, and she wants to be the best.”

After playing at Clarkson University in New York, Haley was selected as the second overall pick in last year’s Professional Women’s Hockey League draft and currently plays for the Boston Fleet. The Milan Cortina Games marked her Olympic debut, during which she tallied one goal and three assists over the six games leading to Thursday’s final.

“She loves this game and she had a dream to play this game at the highest level for a long time,” Ryan said. “It’s now our dream, getting to watch her live out her dream.”

The brothers began their creative support campaigns during the 2024 World Championship in Utica, New York. For the Olympics, they decided to “up their game” both in the stands and on social media.

“So we were like, ‘What can we do that’s next level?'” Ryan explained. “We’re going to add an eagle head to it.” The inspiration came from Team USA’s goal celebration song, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, with the brothers flapping their arms as wings in the stands for added effect.

While the Winn brothers embrace the absurdity of their bald eagle jumpsuits, they remain passionate advocates for women’s hockey receiving the same respect as the men’s game.

“If someone says they don’t like women’s sports or ‘I just want to watch the NHL and not the PWHL,’ it’s because you haven’t watched enough games,” Ryan said. “These are highly skilled, high-level players that have devoted their lives to this craft, who are playing explosively.”

Haley acknowledged on Thursday that while her brothers’ videos might embarrass her a little, she appreciates how they’ve helped reach new audiences online. What began as simple family support “obviously turned into something bigger than that,” she reflected.

The brothers’ viral fame serves as a colorful spotlight on the growing popularity of women’s hockey, part of a broader trend of increasing attention for professional women’s sports including soccer and basketball, highlighting the skill and dedication of female athletes competing at the highest levels.