Laila Edwards Makes History As First Black Woman On U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team
We had the privilege in 2024 of introducing our readers to two black sisters who were making huge inroads in the world of hockey. And now one of them has inked her name in the history books. Laila Edwards makes history as the first black woman on the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team. And she’ll be representing the team at the 2026 Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy.
Currently she is a member of the Wisconsin Badgers who are also the 2025 WCHA regular season champs. So she is used to winning and no doubt hopes to help the women’s hockey team win in Italy. The Clevelandwnba posted the following on Instagram about Edwards:
Cleveland Heights native and U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team member Laila Edwards was in the building last night, cheering on the Cavs and linking up with fellow CLE WNBA super fan Larry Nance Jr.!“
And regarding the Cleveland connection, the Cleveland Cavaliers made a similar post of their own on x.com (formerly twitter) including photos of Nance stating:
Cleveland Heights native and U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team member Laila Edwards was in the building last night, cheering on the Cavs and linking up with fellow CLE WNBA super fan Larry Nance Jr.!
Is love in the air for Edwards and Nance? We don’t know but we definitely love seeing the support being shown for a barrier-breaking superstar hockey player like Edwards. Nance is 6″6′ while Edwards is 6″1′ so together they would make a formidable couple! Nevertheless we look forward to Edwards making her mark at the Olympics. She helped to announce the hockey team’s squad on Friday morning on TODAY, being one of the 23 players named to the roster.
Laila Edwards Makes History As First Black Woman On U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team
Edwards will be turning 22 on January 25. Showing her winning spirit, she skipped her high school graduation ceremony to compete at the 2022 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship. Following her freshman season with the Badgers, she was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team. During the 2023 NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey tournament, she helped Wisconsin win their seventh national championship. And was subsequently named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.
Now we can all cheer on Edwards and the entire women’s national hockey team at the Olympics next month. The U.S. women’s hockey team begins Olympic competition on Feb. 5, 2026 against Czechia at the Milano Rho ice hockey arena. Team USA swept Canada in the 2025 Rivalry Series and is expected to duke it out with the Canadians for gold at the Games. Let’s go ladies!
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