Black Excellence: Laila Edwards
Laila Edwards makes history as first Black American woman to win Olympic gold in women’s hockey
At just 22 years old, Laila Edwards has added her name to the history books.
During the 2026 Winter Olympics, Edwards became the first Black American woman to win Olympic gold in women’s hockey, helping Team USA capture the title in a dramatic tournament that included a gold medal showdown against rival Canada.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laila_Edwards
Laila Edwards (born January 25, 2004) is an American college ice hockey player for the University of Wisconsin and a member of the United States women’s national ice hockey team. She has won two World Championship medals, including gold at the 2025 World Championship and silver at the 2024 World Championship, where she was named Tournament MVP at age 20, becoming the youngest player to receive the honor. Edwards made history in 2023 as the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s senior national team. She is also the first Black woman to score a goal for Team USA at the 2024 World Championships and at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she also became the first Black woman on a USA team to receive a gold medal in ice-hockey.