Seattle Torrent and Team USA captain Hilary Knight will carry the United States flag at the Winter Olympics' closing ceremony Sunday.

“Hilary, you’ve capped off your Olympic career with gold, but something even more golden is you’ll be leading Team USA out at the closing ceremony,” Knight’s teammate Megan Keller said Friday, presenting her with a puffy, white Team USA coat during a team interview on the Today show.

Knight, mouth gaping, responded, “Are you serious?”

The 36-year-old forward, competing in her fifth and final career Olympics for USA women’s hockey, led her team to gold on Thursday after mounting a comeback against Canada with a tip-in goal to knot the score, 1-1, in the final two minutes of the game. Her goal was charged with even more theatrics, as Knight, otherwise known as ‘Captain America’, became the record holder for the most career goals (15) and points (33) in U.S. Olympic women’s hockey history.

Keller scored the game-winner less than five minutes into overtime to secure the country’s third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey history and Knight’s second (2018).

Knight, who also has three silver medals (2010, 2014, 2022), will share the flag with five-time Olympian Evan Bates, who earned gold in the figure skating team event and silver in ice dancing with his partner and wife, Madison Chock.

“I’m filled with so much joy to be able to lead out Team USA alongside Evan,” Knight said on TODAY. “It’s such an incredible honor, and I can’t wait. It’s a dream come true.”

Bearing the American flag will just be the latest in a string of unforgettable moments for Knight this week. She also proposed to longtime partner, Team USA longtrack speedskater Brittany Bowe, on Wednesday.

“Olympics brought us together,” Knight posted to her Instagram from Milan Cortina. “This one made us forever.”

“I did not know (the proposal) was coming here,” Bowe told The Houston Chronicle. “We had spoke about it, obviously. But I did not think it would be happening here. I know how focused Hilary is with hockey, being the leader of that team. And she’s completely involved with her team. So for her to take a moment for me, and for us, and to propose here (and) kind of close that loop of what was started four years ago was really, really special.”

Bowe, 37, is a four-time Olympian and two-time bronze medalist. The pair became close during the 2022 Beijing Olympics, taking evening walks to de-stress after long days of competition. The walks quickly turned into meals shared in the Village and a romantic relationship that has lasted for the past four years.

Bowe narrowly missed out on the podium at Milan Cortina, placing fourth in the 1,000 meter, 1,500 meter and the women’s Team Pursuit 6 Laps. Similar to Knight, she announced this as her final Olympic Games.

“Speedskating has shaped me into the person I am, so it’s so sad (to retire), but it’s also so great that I’m able to finish on my own terms,” Bowe said, “because a lot of athletes don’t have that opportunity.”

The closing ceremony will take place at the Verona Arena, a 2,000-year-old amphitheater, at 11:30 a.m. PT. It will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock.

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