Nationwide — Laila Edwards is about to make historical past after incomes a spot on Group USA’s ladies’s ice hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. She is going to turn out to be the primary Black lady to characterize america in ladies’s ice hockey on the Olympic Video games.
Edwards, 21, is a senior on the College of Wisconsin and was named to the 23-player roster for the Milano Cortina Video games, scheduled from February 6 to February 22. In line with Black Enterprise, Group USA introduced the lineup on Friday, January 2, confirming her place within the historic group.
The Cleveland Heights native has risen rapidly via the ranks of elite hockey. She joined the U.S. ladies’s nationwide group at 19, turning into the primary Black lady to take action, and continued breaking obstacles the next yr.
At 20, Edwards grew to become the youngest American to win the Most Beneficial Participant award on the ladies’s hockey world championships. Her efficiency helped america safe its eleventh world championship title final April. She additionally grew to become the primary Black lady to win an IIHF Ladies’s World Championship.
The Olympic choice introduced an emotional response from Edwards. “It nonetheless hasn’t actually kicked in but. Getting that decision is sort of a dream come true,” she stated. “At all times had goals of enjoying within the execs, however the greatest dream was to go to the Olympics for certain.”
Edwards will be a part of a roster stuffed with skilled gamers, together with Alex Carpenter, Megan Keller, Taylor Heise, and Cayla Barnes, as Group USA prepares for an additional Olympic run.
Because the Video games strategy, Edwards’ household is hoping to be in Italy to witness the second. A GoFundMe marketing campaign was launched to assist cowl journey prices, with a message stating, “We’re asking to your assist now in order that we might be there to cheer Laila, to encompass her with the love and assist of household.” It has thus far raised almost $19,000.
