Auston Matthews and his girlfriend Vanessa Piunno were spotted together at the U.S. Open in New York, but a ring on Piunno’s finger quickly caught fans’ attention. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain was seen holding hands with Piunno as they arrived to watch the tennis action. Photos from the outing have since led to engagement rumors, with some fans wondering if the couple may have taken the next step in their relationship. However, there has been no confirmation from Matthews or Piunno that they are engaged.
Why Fans Think Vanessa Piunno May Be Wearing An Engagement Ring
Matthews and Piunno arrived at the U.S. Open together and were seen holding hands while walking through the event. The Maple Leafs captain kept things casual in a white shirt and cap, while Piunno wore a light outfit with a dark jacket over her shoulders. LeafsLatest shared a video of Matthews in New York City with Piunno, showing the pair arriving at the event.
The attention, however, quickly moved to Piunno’s left hand. Several fans on social media began wondering if the ring could be a sign that the couple had taken the next step in their relationship. Some fans were quick to point out what they saw, with Simon Dingley Media writing, “Looks like Auston Matthews’ girlfriend Vanessa Piunno has a ring on her finger…” SoulSplash09 also reacted to the sight, saying, “Well thats definitely a ring on her finger holy shit.”
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One fan account, @puckingdiva, posted photos from the outing with the caption, “oh my god are they fucking engaged.”
Still, the engagement talk remains only fan speculation. Neither Matthews nor Piunno has announced an engagement, so there is no official confirmation that the ring is connected to one.
Matthews and Piunno Have Kept Their Relationship Mostly Private
Matthews and Piunno made their relationship public earlier this year when Piunno shared a photo of the two together after Matthews helped Team USA win the 2026 Olympic gold medal. Since then, they have kept their relationship away from the spotlight.
That made their U.S. Open appearance stand out, especially with fans quickly noticing the ring. Whether it is an engagement ring or simply a piece of jewelry, there is currently no word from either of them about it.
After surgery and time focused on his health, Matthews is looking to return to his best form in 2026-27. If he can stay healthy and bring back the scoring touch that made him one of hockey’s most dangerous finishers, his focus will be on leading Toronto. For now, any engagement talk involving Piunno remains unconfirmed.