Laila Edwards Makes History as First Black Woman on Team USA Olympic Ice Hockey Team
At 21 years old, Laila Edwards is set to join the national roster at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, becoming the first Black woman to compete for the United States women’s ice hockey team.
A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Edwards’ time on the ice began early. She started figure skating at age three before transitioning to hockey at five, playing on boys’ teams because there were no girls’ programs available where she lived. Her commitment to the sport deepened in eighth grade when she moved from Ohio to New York to play for an elite program at Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester.
She is now a senior at the University of Wisconsin, competing for both the Badgers and the U.S. women’s national team. The official Olympic website has described her as a “rare two-way player who can contribute in both defense and as a forward.”
Reflecting on her experience in the sport, Edwards wrote in Wisconsin’s “Forging Firsts” series that she often tried to blend in but consistently stood out, first as a girl playing hockey with boys and later as the only Black woman on her team.
“I assumed this would go away when I started playing on an all-girls team at the boarding school, but it didn’t,” she wrote. “While I loved my team, there were moments, like when they shared makeup routines, that highlighted my difference; none of the products they used matched my skin tone. Early on, all of this made it challenging for me to find myself and who I was comfortable being.”
Despite her success, Edwards wrote that she sometimes worries her identity could overshadow her achievements. “Will others see the sacrifices and dedication that got me here?” she asked. “Will they understand the discipline demanded to attend 5 a.m. practices or the courage required to leave my loved ones to pursue my passion?”
Even at a young age, Edwards has already made history. At 19, she became the first Black woman to join the U.S. women’s hockey team and went on to win the IIHF Women’s World Championship that same season. At 20, she became the youngest American to earn the Most Valuable Player award at the women’s world championships.
