Laila Edwards made history on February 6, 2026, when she stepped onto the ice at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, becoming the first Black woman to represent the United States in Olympic ice hockey. At just 22 years old, she’s already accomplished what many elite athletes dream of—two NCAA national championships, two World Championship medals including gold, and recognition as one of the brightest talents in women’s hockey.
What makes her story remarkable isn’t just breaking barriers—it’s how she got there. From learning to skate in Cleveland Heights at age three to switching from figure skating to hockey at five, her journey represents dedication, family support, and choosing a sport where she rarely saw anyone who looked like her.
Her rise through youth hockey, high school dominance, collegiate success at Wisconsin, and breakthrough onto the international stage shows what’s possible when talent meets unwavering commitment.
Quick FactsÂ
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Laila Edwards |
| Date of Birth | January 25, 2004 |
| Age | 22 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA |
| Height | 6’1″ (185 cm) |
| Position | Forward/Defense |
| Shoots | Right |
| Current Team | University of Wisconsin Badgers |
| NCAA Championships | 2 (2023, 2025) |
| World Championships | Gold (2025), Silver (2024) |
Parents and Family Background
Laila was born to Robert Edwards and Charone Gray-Edwards in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Her father Robert was a recreational hockey player who introduced his children to the sport through the Cleveland Heights Youth Hockey Program.
Robert recognized early that his children had athletic potential and made the commitment to support their development. He started taking them to “Learn How to Skate” sessions and free skates at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, creating opportunities they might not have had otherwise.
Her mother Charone has been equally supportive, though she initially viewed hockey as simply a way to keep the kids active and away from screens. As Laila’s talent became clear, both parents made significant sacrifices to support her journey, including allowing her to leave home at age 13 to pursue elite hockey opportunities.
The Edwards family raised five children: older brother Bobby (Robert Jr.), older sister Chayla, Laila, younger brother Colson, and sister Britney Gray. Hockey became a family affair—Robert Sr. enrolled Laila and three of her siblings in the Cleveland Heights program, creating bonds through the sport.
Chayla Edwards also plays ice hockey and currently plays for the University of Wisconsin, making the sisters teammates at the collegiate level—a rare and special situation in Division I women’s hockey.
Early Life in Cleveland Heights
Born on January 25, 2004, Laila grew up in Cleveland Heights, a diverse suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The community center became central to her childhood, providing access to ice skating and hockey facilities that made the sport accessible to her family.
She started figure skating at age three, wearing leotards and tutus like her older sister Chayla. For about two years, she trained as a figure skater, developing the skating skills and edge work that would later benefit her hockey career.
At age four or five, she made the switch to ice hockey. The transition was natural—after figure skating practice, she and Chayla would change into pads and jerseys and head to another part of the community center to play hockey with the boys.
Her older brother Bobby had already made the switch from basketball to hockey, paving the way for his sisters to follow. The Edwards kids would practice together, compete together, and push each other to improve.
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Youth Hockey and Standing Out
By age eight, Laila was traveling to out-of-state tournaments, competing against boys in AAA hockey—the highest level of youth hockey. She played for teams including the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks and Cleveland Barons, often as the only girl on the roster.
Playing against boys at this level forced her to develop toughness, speed, and skill beyond what she might have needed in girls-only leagues. She couldn’t rely on physical dominance—she had to be smarter, faster, and more skilled.
She also participated in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Girls hockey program (PensElite), which was founded by Kathy Pippy, who would become one of her most important mentors. Pippy, now head of scouting and senior advisor to the general manager for the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the PWHL, recognized Laila’s exceptional talent early.
The Decision to Leave Home
At age 13, Laila faced a crucial decision that would shape her future. She left Cleveland Heights to attend Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, New York—a four-hour drive from home—to join their elite girls’ hockey program.
Bishop Kearney’s program was only a year old when they recruited her, but it had serious credibility because Kathy Pippy was one of its founders. According to coverage on ESPN about her journey , this move required leaving her family at a young age to pursue her hockey dreams.
Cari Coen, the girls’ hockey director at Bishop Kearney, remembers Laila arriving as a young teenager who would compete against athletes up to five years older. “She’s a special player and there aren’t many like her. It’s generational,” Coen said. “You could ask Hilary Knight to play defense and she would do a great job. It’s just natural for Laila to do both.”
Dominating at Bishop Kearney
Laila’s high school career at Bishop Kearney was exceptional. From 2018 to 2022, she scored 413 points (147 goals and 266 assists) in 287 games across all age levels—numbers that established her as one of the top high school players in the country.
During the 2021-22 season alone, playing for Bishop Kearney’s under-19 team, she recorded 97 points off 38 goals and 59 assists. Her playmaking ability was already elite-level, showing the vision and creativity that would define her game.
She was part of three national championship teams at Bishop Kearney, gaining experience winning at the highest levels of youth hockey. These championships taught her what it takes to perform under pressure and in crucial moments.
International Breakthrough at U18 Level
In 2022, Laila represented the United States at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, serving as an alternate captain. She led Team USA in scoring with four goals and four assists in five games, helping the team win a silver medal.
Following the tournament, she was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Best Forward, and to the All-Tournament team—a clean sweep of individual honors at just 18 years old.
This performance put her on the radar of USA Hockey’s senior national team program and demonstrated she could compete at international levels against the world’s best young players.
College Career at Wisconsin
Laila chose to attend the University of Wisconsin, one of the premier programs in women’s college hockey, coached by Mark Johnson—a member of the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic team.
Freshman Year (2022-23): She recorded 13 goals and 14 assists in 41 games, impressive numbers for a first-year player adjusting to college hockey’s speed and physicality. She was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.
During the 2023 NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey tournament, she recorded four goals and one assist, helping Wisconsin win their seventh national championship. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team, showing she could elevate her game in the biggest moments.
Sophomore Year (2023-24): Her production jumped significantly to 21 goals and 35 assists in 41 games, establishing her as one of the nation’s top offensive players. She was named to the All-WCHA Third Team.
On May 29, 2024, she received the USA Hockey Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Award, recognizing her as the best American women’s hockey player of the year—a major national honor.
Junior Year (2024-25): Laila exploded offensively, leading the entire nation with 35 goals while adding 36 assists in 41 games. Her 35 goals were the most by a Wisconsin player since Brianna Decker’s 37 goals during the 2011-12 season.
She was named to the All-WCHA First Team and became a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award—the Heisman Trophy equivalent of women’s college hockey.
During the 2025 NCAA tournament semifinals, she recorded a hat-trick to help Wisconsin advance to the national championship game for the third consecutive season. Wisconsin won their eighth national championship, with Laila playing a central role.
On September 18, 2024, she was named an alternate captain for the 2024-25 season, recognition of her leadership alongside her on-ice excellence.
Senior National Team Debut and Historic Firsts
In November 2023, at age 19, Laila was named to the United States women’s national ice hockey team for the November Rivalry Series against Canada. This made her the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s senior national team—a historic milestone in American hockey.
“I never anticipated being a role model,” she wrote. “I was always searching for one myself, someone who resembled me and had similar aspirations.”
2024 World Championship MVP
At the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Czechia, Laila made history again. She became the first Black woman to score a goal for Team USA at the World Championships.
During the tournament, she tied for the tournament lead with six goals in seven games, including a hat-trick in the semifinals against Finland that helped the United States reach the gold medal game.
Team USA won the silver medal, and at age 20, Laila was named Tournament MVP—becoming the youngest player ever to receive the honor at an IIHF World Women’s Championship. She was also named to the All-Star team.
2025 World Championship Gold
At the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Laila made a selfless decision that demonstrated her commitment to team success over personal statistics. After being told she would have a better chance of making the roster at defense than forward, she switched positions.
The position change worked. Playing defense, she recorded one goal and three assists in seven games, and Team USA won the gold medal. This championship proved her versatility—she could impact games from any position.
Olympic Selection and Historic Debut
On January 2, 2026, Laila Edwards was named to Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. The announcement fulfilled a lifelong dream and set up her chance to make history.
“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet,” she told the Associated Press. “Getting that call is like a dream come true. Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go the Olympics, for sure.”
According to Team USA official profile, her selection came after proving herself as one of the team’s top talents through world championship performances and consistent excellence at Wisconsin.
On February 6, 2026, Laila stepped onto the ice for Team USA’s opening game against Czechia at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, becoming the first Black woman to represent the United States in Olympic ice hockey. The United States won 5-1 in a dominant performance.
Physical Attributes and Playing Style
At 6’1″ and 195 pounds, Laila has an ideal frame for modern hockey—big enough to win physical battles but with exceptional speed and agility for her size. She shoots right-handed.
Her playing style combines elite skating, creative playmaking, and goal-scoring ability. Coaches describe her as an “artist” on the ice, capable of seeing plays develop before they happen and making passes that create scoring chances.
Her versatility allows her to play both forward and defense at elite levels. As Cari Coen explained, moving Edwards to defense is like “having four forwards on the ice at all times” because of her offensive creativity and vision.
Team USA captain Hilary Knight called her “the future of the sport,” adding: “I think you’re seeing someone who’s coming into her skill set and just scratching the surface.”
Ethnicity and Representation
Laila Edwards is African American, and her presence in hockey carries significant meaning for representation in a sport that has historically lacked diversity.
Her historic firsts—first Black woman on the U.S. senior national team, first to score at World Championships, first at the Olympics—have made her a role model for young Black girls considering hockey.
“It’s such a big moment for the whole community to be able to see somebody that looks like them at that level going to represent the United States at the Olympics,” said Meredith Lang, executive director of Mosaic Hockey Collective, a nonprofit that helps create opportunities for players of color.
Malik Garvin, executive director of Ice Hockey in Harlem (IHIH), noted: “Her being in the Winter Olympics is the best form of representation for our kids. It literally tells them that they can do it because, it’s a harsh reality but you look around, Laila is often the only player on the ice.”
Net Worth and Future Prospects
As a college athlete, Laila Edwards receives scholarship support covering education but doesn’t earn a salary. Her future professional earnings will depend on the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which launched in 2024 with salaries ranging from approximately $35,000 to $80,000 annually.
Her marketability as a historic figure and elite talent may create endorsement opportunities beyond playing salary. She’s already a Red Bull athlete, indicating corporate partnerships are beginning.
Her focus remains on competing at the highest levels—Olympic gold, more World Championships, and continuing to improve her game while finishing her education at Wisconsin.
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