Laila Edwards is making history, one puck drop at a time. She’s taking the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics to become the first Black woman on the U.S. women’s hockey team.
A defensive player, Edwards helped her team defeat Canada on Feb. 10 in a decisive 5-0 game. The rivalry match marked Canada’s worst-ever loss at the Olympics.
Edwards is far from finished breaking barriers on and off the ice. Since hockey is one of the most expensive sports to play, creating a hardship for many black and brown youth from disadvantaged communities, Edwards wants to use her platform to bring more representation to the game.
“I’ve had kids say, ‘You’re my favorite player. You look like me.’ I think that’s so important to have someone at a high stage who looks like you, and it’s even more important that I can succeed at this high stage,” Edwards told ESPN.
The Cleveland Heights, Ohio native has been playing hockey since she was three years old. When she’s not competing on the world stage, she’s skating for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Being an Olympic athlete and role model doesn’t come without pressure; Edwards is working to balance her career with mental health.
“You’ve just got to constantly remind yourself that you’re a human being. You’re not any of this without being a human first,” Edwards told Ebony Magazine.
Edwards and Team USA need three more wins to bring home a gold medal. The women’s hockey championship game is set to take place on Thursday, Feb. 19.
