Nationwide — Laila Edwards made historical past on the 2026 Winter Olympics as the primary Black lady to compete for Group USA in Olympic ice hockey. The 22-year-old debuted in Milano Cortina, scored her first Olympic level, and helped the U.S. open the event with a 5-1 win over Czechia.
A Cleveland Heights, Ohio native, Edwards wasted no time making her presence felt. She picked up her first level on the opening aim scored by alternate captain Alex Carpenter, marking a powerful begin to her Olympic journey.
Her milestone locations her amongst a small group of Black athletes who’ve represented their international locations in Olympic hockey. Whereas gamers like Blake Bolden and Edwards’ older sister Chayla took half in USA Hockey growth packages, none have been beforehand chosen to compete on the senior ladies’s Olympic crew.
“I take a number of pleasure in it, and I’m simply going to embrace it, as a result of illustration issues,” she instructed Olympics. “Irrespective of how uncomfortable it may be, it’s for the following era.”
On the 2026 Video games, Edwards is certainly one of just a few Black ladies competing within the ladies’s hockey event. She has acknowledged the accountability that comes with being first, whereas staying targeted on ensuring visibility and alternative proceed past her personal second.
Assist has adopted her to the Olympic stage. Fellow Cleveland Heights natives Travis and Jason Kelce donated to her household’s GoFundMe to assist convey family to Italy to look at and assist her Olympic debut. She mentioned, “To have them right here supporting me, it simply provides me that additional degree of motivation, consolation, and confidence that I actually respect.”
Edwards, a ahead on the College of Wisconsin, requested a place change to protection for Group USA. Head coach John Wroblewski backed the transfer, calling it player-driven. The choice is already paying off, as Edwards now pairs with alternate captain Megan Keller, with each recording assists within the Olympic opener.
