Laila Edwards is headed to the 2026 Winter Olympics, continuing to break barriers for Black women in the sport.
Originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Edwards has won two NCAA national championships as well as two world championship medals with the U.S. National team.The 21-year-old forward for the University of Wisconsin Badgers was included on Team USA’s 23-player roster, which was announced on Jan. 2 ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina, according to a press release.
“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards said in an interview with the Associated Press. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go the Olympics, for sure.”
In 2023, Edwards made history as the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team — making her national debut at the age of 19. She also became the first Black woman to win the International Ice Hockey Foundation (IIHF) Women’s World Championships in 2024, where she became the youngest American to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, according to a press release.
During the 2025 IIHF Women’s Hockey World Championships, Edwards switched from her typical position as a forward to play defense, which ultimately helped Team USA win its 11th title with one goal and three assists in seven games.
Edwards will also be playing defense for Team USA at Milano Cortina.
For more information, visit olympics.com
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
