America fell in love with Jack Hughes the moment he buried that overtime goal to give Team USA its first men’s hockey gold medal since 1980. But almost immediately after the celebration erupted in Milan, millions of fans shifted their attention to a different question entirely — one that has been quietly simmering since November 2025. Who is Jack Hughes girlfriend? The name on everyone’s lips is Tate McRae, the Grammy-nominated Canadian pop star whose rumored connection to the New Jersey Devils center has become one of the most talked-about stories in sports and entertainment right now.
📲 Follow along for the latest updates on Jack Hughes and Tate McRae as this story continues to develop.
How the Rumors Got Started
It all began in November 2025, when photos surfaced of Hughes and McRae sharing an intimate dinner at Anton’s, a popular restaurant in New York City’s West Village neighborhood. The two were photographed together walking in New York City the following day, with Hughes visibly wearing a hand brace — the result of thumb surgery he had undergone after sustaining an injury at a team dinner.
That was enough to send the internet into overdrive. Neither Hughes nor McRae addressed the photos publicly, but the silence only seemed to fuel more curiosity. Fans and media outlets alike began piecing together a timeline of their possible relationship.
Tate McRae Shows Up at a Devils Game
The speculation intensified in December 2025 when McRae was spotted attending a New Jersey Devils home game. This was particularly notable because Hughes had only recently returned from his five-week absence due to thumb surgery. Her presence in the stands, quiet but visible, was the kind of detail that fans immediately seized upon.
Then, in January 2026, Hughes celebrated his birthday in Hoboken, New Jersey — and McRae was reportedly in attendance at that gathering as well. No couple photos were posted publicly. No captions hinted at anything official. But the pattern of appearances was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Quinn Hughes Adds Fuel to the Fire
One of the more intriguing data points in this whole saga came from an unexpected source — Jack’s older brother, Quinn Hughes, who served as Team USA’s captain at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Quinn liked an Instagram post that suggested Jack and Tate could be a couple. It was a small gesture, but in the world of social media, where everything carries meaning, fans treated it as a significant signal of family approval.
The Hughes family is one of hockey’s most prominent — all three brothers, Jack, Quinn, and Luke, play in the NHL. The fact that Quinn engaged with content about the rumored relationship, even in a minor way, only deepened the public’s interest.
Who Is Tate McRae?
For anyone not already familiar with her, Tate McRae is a 22-year-old singer and songwriter from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She first gained wide recognition through her performances on the dance competition circuit and quickly transitioned into a career as a pop artist. Her breakout songs “Greedy” and “Sports Car” turned her into a chart force, and her rise has only continued from there.
In 2025, McRae released her album So Close to What, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — a major milestone for any artist. Her single “Just Keep Watching” earned her a Grammy nomination in the Best Dance Pop Recording category, marking her first nod from the Recording Academy. She is, without question, one of the biggest young pop stars in the world right now.
McRae has also been open in interviews about the difficulties of navigating public relationships. After her high-profile split from rapper The Kid LAROI in mid-2025, she spoke candidly about how overwhelming it was to have her personal life scrutinized on such a massive scale. That experience appears to have shaped how she handles the attention surrounding her connection to Hughes — carefully and quietly.
Before The Kid LAROI, McRae dated NHL player Cole Sillinger from 2021 to 2023, a relationship that began through mutual friends connected to her brother, who is also a hockey player. Her familiarity with the world of professional hockey is not new.
Jack Hughes’ Olympic Glory Changes Everything
Jack Hughes entered the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan under a cloud of uncertainty. His thumb surgery had kept him sidelined for weeks, and there were real questions about whether he would be healthy enough to compete at all. He answered those doubts in the most dramatic way possible.
With Team USA and Canada locked in a tense 2-1 game in the gold medal final, Hughes scored 1 minute and 41 seconds into three-on-three overtime to deliver the championship. It was the United States’ first Olympic men’s hockey gold since the legendary Miracle on Ice in 1980 — a moment that will be replayed for generations.
In the immediate aftermath, Hughes was asked about the woman on his mind after the historic win, and his answer only deepened the public’s curiosity. He was careful with his words, but the question itself was telling. The entire sports world wanted to know more about the personal life of America’s newest hockey hero.
Canada vs. the Rumored Romance
The gold medal result created a uniquely awkward moment in pop culture. McRae, a proud Canadian, was widely believed to be romantically linked to the man who just defeated Canada in overtime at the Olympics. Canadian fans, still stinging from the loss, turned some of their frustration her way. Social media lit up with everything from playful jabs to demands that she end the rumored relationship.
McRae said nothing publicly about the gold medal game. She posted nothing. She liked nothing. Her silence became its own kind of story. Some Canadian fans interpreted it as quiet loyalty to her home country. Others saw it differently. The internet, as always, had opinions.
What We Know for Sure About Jack Hughes Girlfriend Speculation
Here is where things stand as of today. Hughes and McRae were photographed together in New York City in November 2025. McRae attended his Devils game in December 2025. She was reportedly present at his birthday celebration in January 2026. Quinn Hughes liked an Instagram post linking the two. Neither Jack nor Tate has publicly addressed their relationship status in any official capacity.
Their approach to the whole situation has been remarkably consistent — no social media declarations, no joint appearances designed for cameras, no interviews addressing the rumors directly. Both are people who, by their own statements and behavior, value keeping their personal lives out of the spotlight as much as possible given the level of fame they each carry.
Hughes keeps his social media focused on hockey and his teammates. McRae has spoken openly about the lessons she learned from having a past relationship play out in the public eye. Together — or not — they seem to have agreed that privacy is worth protecting.
Two Stars, Two Worlds, One Massive Story
What makes this story so compelling for fans is the contrast it presents. Jack Hughes is a 24-year-old hockey prodigy who just became an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most celebrated athletes in America. Tate McRae is a 22-year-old global pop star with a No. 1 album and a Grammy nomination to her name. They represent two of the biggest lanes in sports and entertainment, and the idea of them together has captured imaginations across North America.
Whether or not they officially confirm a relationship, their names are now linked in a way that will follow both of them for a long time. Every Devils game McRae attends — if she attends any more — will generate headlines. Every photo of them in the same city will spark theories. The internet has made up its mind, even if the two of them haven’t made a public statement.
For now, the story continues to unfold one small detail at a time, and millions of people on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border are watching closely.
Drop your thoughts in the comments — are Jack and Tate the celebrity couple of 2026? Stay tuned because this story is far from over.
