Are Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Still On? Inside the Romance Rumors After His Olympic Gold Moment

Tate McRae and Jack Hughes may be keeping quiet — but the internet definitely isn’t.

Ever since the Canadian pop star and the New Jersey Devils center were first spotted together in November 2025, fans have been piecing together clues about a possible romance. Now, after Hughes scored the gold-medal-winning goal for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics — against Canada, no less — speculation has hit a fever pitch.

So what’s really going on?

McRae, 22, and Hughes, 24, first sparked dating rumors after being photographed at dinner at Anton’s in New York City in November 2025. A month later, they were seen walking through the city together, smiling and laughing, further fueling speculation.

One month later, McRae was also spotted in the stands at a Devils game, cheering Hughes on as he returned from injury. The two follow each other on Instagram, though neither has confirmed a relationship publicly.

It’s not clear how they met. In a recent Rolling Stone interview — where she confirmed her breakup from The Kid LAROI after more than a year together — McRae admitted dating in the public eye has been difficult.

“It was really scary and overwhelming,” she said of intense scrutiny around her previous relationship. “I didn’t realize how much it would affect me, the public knowing my private life — because no one knows the full story of anything, ever.”

She also made it clear that dating apps aren’t her thing. “I’m really bad at flirting,” she said. “No apps. That stuff literally gives me a heart attack, and thinking about meeting people makes me nauseous.”

The rumors took on new complexity during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

On February 22, Hughes scored the overtime goal that secured Team USA’s first men’s hockey Olympic gold since 1980 — a dramatic 2-1 win over Canada. The moment instantly turned him into an American sports hero.

For McRae, however, the situation was complicated. The “greedy” singer is proudly Canadian, and just weeks earlier she faced backlash after appearing in an NBC commercial promoting the Winter Games that heavily featured Team USA athletes.

She quickly responded to critics by posting a childhood photo holding a Canadian flag, writing, “…y’all know I’m Canada down.”

When Hughes scored the gold-medal winner against her home country, fans waited to see if she’d acknowledge it. Instead, McRae posted a simple selfie that day with no mention of hockey.

The silence hasn’t stopped speculation. Some fans believe the low-key approach fits a broader “quiet partner” trend among celebrity couples, especially during high-pressure moments.

Whether McRae is cheering from the sidelines privately or embracing single life as she hinted she would in 2026, one thing is clear: both stars are laser-focused on their careers.

And for now, their relationship status remains the only thing more suspenseful than sudden-death overtime.