Laila Edwards Makes Olympic History as Family Cheers in Milan
When Laila Edwards became the first Black person to win Olympic gold in women’s hockey with Team USA, she did not celebrate alone. In the stands in Milan were her closest supporters, a presence made possible through community donations and a major contribution from Cleveland’s most famous football brothers.
A Gold Medal and a Historic First
On Feb. 19 at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, the 22 year old helped secure a 2 to 1 victory over Canada in the women’s gold medal game at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Earlier in the tournament, Edwards had already made history as the first Black person to score a goal for Team USA in Olympic women’s hockey. The gold medal win sealed both the championship and her place in the record books.
Among those watching were her parents, eight additional family members and friends, and her 91 year old grandmother.
After the semifinal game, Edwards told the Associated Press that having her family in Milan “means everything to me.”
“They helped me get here and make this team and achieve my dream, so it means a lot,” she said.
Edwards first broke barriers in 2023 when she became the first Black woman named to the U.S. women’s national hockey team. But international travel on short notice brought an unexpected challenge for her family.
Her mother, Cherone Gray Edwards, told Associated Press that about a month before the Games she began calling relatives to see who might be able to travel to Milan. The reality set in quickly. They only had enough money to send two people.
“We had to start talking about how to get money,” she said. “Who would go? How would we afford it?”
That is when her father, Robert Edwards, launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Send Laila’s Family to the Olympics to Cheer Her On!” He set a 50,000 dollar goal so the family would not have to choose between airfare and basic household bills back home in Cleveland Heights.
By Thursday, the fundraiser had surpassed its target, raising more than 61,000 dollars.
“There’s a lot of ups and downs in playing hockey at this high level and so she’s going to need somebody there,” her father said. “So I was like, ‘Well, pride be damned: we’re going to do a fundraiser.’”
The Kelce Brothers Step In
The largest single donation, 10,000 dollars, was initially anonymous. It was later confirmed to have come from Cleveland Heights natives and NFL stars Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce.
The support was not out of character. Both brothers have publicly championed Edwards since she first made the national team, highlighting her as another hometown standout.
Their contribution ensured that Edwards’ milestone moment was shared with the people who helped shape it.
For one night in Milan, history was not just made on the ice. It was witnessed, celebrated, and made louder by family, community, and a reminder that even Olympic dreams often take a village.
