February 22, 2026
Edwards’ household and back-home neighborhood championed the athlete as she secured gold for Crew USA.
In a win for each Crew USA and Black Historical past Month, Laila Edwards has made historical past in girls’s hockey on the Winter Olympics.
Upon Crew USA’s 2-1 victory towards the rival Canadian squad in the course of the girls’s hockey finals, Edwards scored her first Gold medal for her efficiency. The Athletic experiences that the 22-year-old is the primary Black girl to obtain a gold medal with Crew USA for the game.
The accomplishment and recognition stay not misplaced on Edwards, who initially made historical past as the primary Black girl to play with the squad in the course of the Winter Olympics. Within the match, Edwards additionally earned one help to assist her crew solidify their lead within the rematch towards Crew Canada. Heralded as probably the greatest at present enjoying within the sport, the Gold medal cemented Edwards’ prowess and history-making profession.
Her circle of relatives’s journey to Milan, the place the 2026 match is going down, grew to become one she fought for off the rink as nicely. A Cleveland native, her neighborhood crowdfunded in order that she might have familial assist in the course of the video games, who rallied for her all the best way to the Gold occasion. Fellow Cleveland sports activities legends, NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce, made a major contribution to Edwards.
‘They helped me get right here and make this crew and obtain my dream, so it means loads,’ she mentioned of the GoFundMe, as reported by The Guardian.
With shoutouts from skilled athletes and a complete neighborhood cheering her on, Edwards has grow to be a job mannequin for Black women to take part in nontraditional sports activities. Now, Edwards shouldn’t be solely uplifting Black women in Hockey, however her whole neighborhood again dwelling as nicely.
“What Laila is doing for hockey … it’s 2026,” shared Dena Bufford, a Cleveland Heights resident. “To be the primary Black [woman on the US team] – and she or he received a gold medal. I’m elated for her household and the way she represents and evokes our neighborhood. And it’s Black Historical past Month too? It is a time after we actually need encouragement. Our ancestors are celebrating. I’m simply so glad.”
With Edwards’ star on the rise, new and previous followers can proceed to see her carry out on the ice. The Day by day Mail confirmed that Edwards stays a favourite within the upcoming Skilled Ladies’s Hockey League draft this June, with a better highlight anticipated for this new gold medalist.
RELATED CONTENT: Laila Edwards Makes Historical past As 1st Black Feminine Hockey Participant To Rating Objective For Crew USA
