Nationwide — Laila Edwards made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics as the first Black woman to compete for Team USA in Olympic ice hockey. The 22-year-old debuted in Milano Cortina, scored her first Olympic point, and helped the U.S. open the tournament 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 point on the opening goal scored by alternate captain Alex Carpenter, marking a strong start to her Olympic journey.
Her milestone places her among a small group of Black athletes who have represented their countries in Olympic hockey. While players like Blake Bolden and Edwards’ older sister Chayla took part in USA Hockey development programs, none were previously selected to compete on the senior women’s Olympic team.
“I take a lot of pride in it, and I’m just going to embrace it, because representation matters,” she told Olympics. “No matter how uncomfortable it can be, it’s for the next generation.”
At the 2026 Games, Edwards is one of only a few Black women competing in the women’s hockey tournament. She has acknowledged the responsibility that comes with being first, while staying focused on making sure visibility and opportunity continue beyond her own moment.
Support has followed her to the Olympic stage. Fellow Cleveland Heights natives Travis and Jason Kelce donated to her family’s GoFundMe to help bring relatives to Italy to watch and support her Olympic debut. She said, “To have them here supporting me, it just gives me that extra level of motivation, comfort, and confidence that I really appreciate.”
Edwards, a forward at the University of Wisconsin, requested a position change to defense for Team USA. Head coach John Wroblewski backed the move, calling it player-driven. The decision is already paying off, as Edwards now pairs with alternate captain Megan Keller, with both recording assists in the Olympic opener.