Auston Matthews Celebrates Gold with New Girlfriend
Toronto Maple Leafs captain and Team USA star Auston Matthews, 28, has gone Instagram official with his girlfriend, Vanessa Piunno, 26, shortly after securing gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Piunno shared photos on her Instagram account capturing the couple’s joyful moments following Team USA’s 2-1 victory over Canada. One image shows Matthews with his arm around Piunno, proudly wearing the gold medal around his neck. Another blurry shot captures him smiling while holding a glass of white wine as they embrace closely.
Piunno sported a jacket featuring Matthews’ name, an eagle emblem, and his number 34 on the sleeve. She captioned the post: “A month to remember forever.”
Relationship Timeline
The couple has been dating since 2025. Piunno, a certified medical aesthetician specializing in non-surgical treatments, first hinted at the relationship through subtle social media posts showing Matthews from behind.
Key Role in Olympic Victory
Matthews played a pivotal part in Team USA’s triumphant run, culminating in the narrow gold-medal win against rivals Canada. His leadership helped end Canada’s dominance in the final.
Post-Gold Celebrations and Controversy
Following the win, 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 sparked debate, occurring hours after Trump made a joke about the U.S. women’s hockey team, which also claimed gold. During a post-victory locker room call from FBI Director Kash Patel, members of the men’s team were heard laughing.
