Jessica Pegula Slams ‘Harassing’ Fans in Defense of NHL Star Connor Bedard

Jessica Pegula has been pretty much involved in the NHL world in the off-season.

Jessica Pegula Slams ‘Harassing’ Fans in Defense of NHL Star Connor Bedard

Jessica Pegula and Connor Bedard (Via X/We Are Tennis and ESPN)

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If one’s ever wondered what it feels like to be a celebrity just trying to grab a bite to eat without being swarmed by dudes holding stacks of eBay merchandise, just ask Connor Bedard. Or better yet, ask Jessica Pegula, because she’s had enough of it.

The tennis star recently took to her podcast, The Players’ Box Podcast, to throw some serious verbal defense toward the 20-year-old Chicago Blackhawks sensation, because Bedard caught some heat online for not signing autographs for a group of aggressive adults while just trying to exist in public. Pegula said in the Players Podcast:

Connor Bedard, he’s a forward for the Blackhawks. He’s only like 20 years old, total superstar. For those of you that don’t follow hockey, Dez probably knows who he is. Um, but there was a video of him basically denying someone um, an autograph, but the guy was trying, he was older and he was obviously like selling these autographs. And I just thought it was really relatable because we definitely had a lot of those people.

Here’s the lowdown: A video went viral showing Bedard being essentially stalked by a group of men holding magazines. While the young NHL star initially tried to keep it moving (likely because he has places to be and isn’t a vending machine), he eventually caved and signed a few. Pegula added:

I think when the boundaries thing gets crossed, like in his instance, like he’s just trying to walk to dinner. Who knows? Maybe he just signed like 20 of them for this guy and he didn’t feel like signing another one cuz this guy’s harassing him. I feel like it’s a boundaries thing for me. Like when it’s they forget that you’re human, following you to the elevator into your hotel room. It’s totally crossing a line and then when that happens, it kind of ruins your want to do it again.

But apparently, for the internet critics, that wasn’t enough. Enter Pegula, who wasn’t having any of the backlash.

The Sabres connection runs deep

It’s not shocking that Jessica Pegula has Bedard’s back. She’s basically NHL royalty. Her dad, Terry Pegula, bought the Buffalo Sabres back in 2011.

Jessica Pegula (via X/CGTN Sports)
Jessica Pegula (via X/CGTN Sports)

While the team has been “trophy-challenged” for a while, Jessica is constantly tuned into the hockey world.

Whether she’s grinding out matches on the WTA tour or watching her family’s teams, she understands the ecosystem. She knows the difference between a supporter and a seller.

Jessica Pegula announces new family member

American tennis star Jessica Pegula recently revealed that she and her husband, Taylor Gahagen, have welcomed a new puppy named Mabel into their home. The couple already had three dogs—Maddie, Des, and Lemmy—making Mabel the fourth. Pegula shared the news during an episode of her podcast.

Taylor and I got a new puppy. Her name is Mabel and she is a German short-haired pointer. Literally, just picked her up yesterday. So, we’ll see how it goes. She’s currently snoring a little bit in the background here. She’s a lil snorer. Hopefully, it doesn’t interfere. And unforced error, she already pooped on my breakfast area.

Jessica Pegula
Jessica Pegula (Image via X/WTA Insider)

Her love for dogs goes far beyond her own pets. Pegula and Gahagen run a rescue initiative called “Lend a Paw,” which focuses on helping stray dogs find safe and caring homes. She also attended a recent charity dinner for the organization, where her appearance drew attention online.

Earlier this year, Pegula experienced the loss of one of her dogs, Tucker. She openly expressed her sadness and spoke about the important role dogs play in her life. Despite the heartbreak, she was cheerful when introducing Mabel and mentioned the puppy’s playful behavior.

Pegula hosts The Player’s Box alongside Madison Keys, Desirae Krawczyk, and Jennifer Brady—each a successful WTA player. Her own 2025 season was strong as well, with three titles and a semifinal run at the US Open, following her first Grand Slam final appearance the year before.

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