As Laila Edwards made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, the Wisconsin senior became the first Black woman to compete for Team USA's ice hockey team. Edwards, who started on the blue line and recorded a power-play assist in Team USA's 5-1 win against Czechia on Feb. 5, called the milestone "an incredible honor."
Days later, Edwards added another historic moment to her Olympic run. In Team USA's 5-0 victory over Canada on Tuesday, she became the first Black woman to score a goal for the team.
Related: Explore the NCAA's Milan Cortina hub.
Laila Edwards scored her historic goal against Canada in the third period. (Photo by Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Fittingly, this moment arrived during Black History Month — a visible moment in time for the next generation watching.
"I get to be the first of something and a role model for others," Edwards said. "Representation matters. No matter how uncomfortable it can be, it's for the next generation."
She has grown more comfortable speaking about representation in women's hockey, acknowledging that staying quiet would limit the visibility that young athletes may need.
"I could not do interviews or not talk about it, but then the story doesn't get out there," Edwards said. "And then maybe a little girl doesn't see me, who looks like her — and I think that's more important."
She recalls parents and young players who have approached her with messages that their daughters started or stayed in hockey because they saw someone who looks like them succeeding at a high level.
"That's just really motivating," she said. Even at the sport's highest stage, she signed autographs for young fans — keeping the focus simple: "It's the least I can do. These kids are coming out to watch us."
Edwards isn't new at breaking barriers. She began playing hockey at age 5 and was often the only girl on her team. In 2023, she became the first Black player named to the U.S. women's national hockey team. This milestone served as a precursor to what would be this historic Olympic moment — one that her family, including her 91-year-old grandmother, had the chance to witness in person.
This historic achievement arrives while she is still competing for one of the strongest women's hockey programs in the country. Edwards is in her senior season at Wisconsin, where she already has won two National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championships and earned first-team All-America honors from the American Hockey Coaches Association, along with being a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top women's college hockey player.
Related: Inside the Olympic pipeline that is Wisconsin women's hockey.
Edwards' contributions have been integral to Wisconsin's continued national prominence, including deep postseason runs and consistent top-tier offensive production. Her scholastic achievements as an Academic All-Big Ten and Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic honoree underscore her impact as a student-athlete.
For Edwards, being the first is deeply meaningful.
"I take a lot of pride in it," she said. "Just to have the ability to be a role model and hear that people are looking up to me, that's something I really appreciate."
As she continues her senior season with the Badgers while competing on the Olympic stage, Edwards represents not only Team USA and Wisconsin, but a path she hopes will be easier for others who follow.
How to watch Team USA women's ice hockey
Follow Team USA's journey throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics through NBCUniversal's coverage. Every event will also be livestreamed and available on demand on Peacock. Daily broadcast schedules are available at nbcolympics.com/schedule.
