Who Is Laila Edwards? The Hockey Star Set to Become the First Black Women to Compete in the Winter Olympics for Team USA

Laila Edwards is officially headed for the history books.

The rising hockey star is set to become the first Black woman to represent Team USA in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics after being named to the 23-player roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Her groundbreaking selection was announced live on the TODAY show on January 2, marking a major milestone not just for Edwards, but for the sport as a whole.

“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards told the Associated Press. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go the Olympics, for sure.”

At just 21 years old, Edwards has already built an extraordinary résumé — and she’s done it fast. She first made waves in 2023 when she became the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s senior national team. Just a year later, she made history again, becoming the youngest American ever to be named Most Valuable Player at the IIHF Women’s World Championship at age 20, helping Team USA secure its 11th world title last April.