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Layla Edwards became the first black female player to represent the US in hockey at the Olympics and the first to score in *** game. The 6’1 star plays collegiately at the University of Wisconsin and she’s helped lead the Badgers to 3 straight NCAA championship game appearances. Now she’s on the cusp of *** medal here at the Olympics. We talked with her about breaking the glass ceiling and becoming *** role model for the next generation. I think it’s slowly dawning on me and it’s just an honor, you know, to be that role model. You know, it’s like the intention, you know, I’ve never been *** big fan of, but to have the opportunity to represent *** community and inspire other people is really motivating. Caroline Harvey is Edwards’ best friend, teammate in college, and fellow Team USA star. She is one of many that will follow in her footsteps, but for her to be the first, definitely. Should have been other representation, but so proud of her, the trail that she’s blazing, and it’s unbelievable for girls of color to look up to her and see it. The 21-year-old Edwards is so highly thought of that Team USA made it *** point to play an exhibition game in her hometown of Cleveland prior to the Olympics, even though Cleveland isn’t an NHL market. At the Malign Cortina Olympics, I’m Fletcher Mackle.
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Laila Edwards has made history as the first Black woman to play on the U.S. women’s hockey team at a Winter Olympics. The 6-foot-1 star is highly regarded. Edwards plays collegiate hockey at the University of Wisconsin, where she has helped lead the Badgers to three consecutive NCAA championship game appearances.Edwards scored the first goal for the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Now, the 22-year-old is on the cusp of earning a medal at the Winter Games. Edwards shared her thoughts on breaking barriers and becoming a role model for future generations. “I think it’s slowly dawning on me, and it’s just an honor, you know, to be that role model,” she said. “It’s like the intention, you know, I’ve never been a big fan of. But to have the opportunity to represent, you know, a community and inspire other people is really motivating.” Caroline Harvey, Edwards’ best friend, college teammate and fellow Team USA star, expressed her pride in Edwards’ achievements. “She is one of many that will follow in her footsteps,” Harvey said. “The trail that she’s blazing, and it’s unbelievable for girls of color to look up to her and see it.”Prior to the 2026 Winter Games, Team USA played an exhibition game in her hometown of Cleveland, despite Cleveland not being an NHL market. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
Laila Edwards has made history as the first Black woman to play on the U.S. women’s hockey team at a Winter Olympics.
The 6-foot-1 star is highly regarded. Edwards plays collegiate hockey at the University of Wisconsin, where she has helped lead the Badgers to three consecutive NCAA championship game appearances.
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Edwards scored the first goal for the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Now, the 22-year-old is on the cusp of earning a medal at the Winter Games.
Edwards shared her thoughts on breaking barriers and becoming a role model for future generations. “I think it’s slowly dawning on me, and it’s just an honor, you know, to be that role model,” she said. “It’s like the intention, you know, I’ve never been a big fan of. But to have the opportunity to represent, you know, a community and inspire other people is really motivating.”
Caroline Harvey, Edwards’ best friend, college teammate and fellow Team USA star, expressed her pride in Edwards’ achievements. “She is one of many that will follow in her footsteps,” Harvey said. “The trail that she’s blazing, and it’s unbelievable for girls of color to look up to her and see it.”
Prior to the 2026 Winter Games, Team USA played an exhibition game in her hometown of Cleveland, despite Cleveland not being an NHL market.
