Laila Edwards: Olympic Gold Medallist and Hockey Trailblazer

Introduction

Laila Edwards is an American ice-hockey player known for her size, scoring ability and historic success with Team USA. She became the first Black woman to play for the senior United States women’s national hockey team and later became the first Black woman to represent the country in Olympic hockey.

Edwards won an Olympic gold medal in 2026, an IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medal in 2025 and three NCAA national championships with the Wisconsin Badgers. In June 2026, PWHL San Jose selected her fourth overall in the first round of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft.

Laila Edwards Quick Facts

Detail	Verified information
Full name	Laila Edwards
Date of birth	January 25, 2004
Age	22 years old, as of July 2026
Hometown	Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States
Nationality	American
Profession	Ice-hockey player
Playing positions	Defence and forward
Shoots	Right
College team	Wisconsin Badgers
College jersey number	10
Olympic achievement	Gold medal in 2026
World Championship achievement	Gold in 2025 and silver in 2024
PWHL Draft	Fourth overall by PWHL San Jose in 2026

Official USA Hockey records list Edwards’s birth date as January 25, 2004, and her hometown as Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Who Is Laila Edwards?

Laila Edwards is one of the most exciting young players in American women’s hockey.

She can play as both a forward and a defender. This flexibility allows coaches to use her in different situations. She can protect her own goal, move the puck through the ice and create scoring chances near the opposing net.

Edwards is also recognised as an important representation figure. Her arrival on the senior United States team showed young Black players that they could reach the highest levels of international hockey.

Her public profile is based on real sporting success rather than only her historic firsts. She has won major titles at university, world-championship and Olympic level.

Laila Edwards’s Age and Date of Birth

Laila Edwards was born on January 25, 2004.

She is 22 years old as of July 2026. She celebrated her 22nd birthday in January 2026.

Edwards reached senior international hockey while still in her teens. By the age of 20, she had already become the Most Valuable Player at the senior IIHF Women’s World Championship.

Where Is Laila Edwards From?

Edwards is from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, in the United States.

She grew up in a sporting family and began skating when she was very young. Her father had experience playing hockey, while her older siblings also helped introduce her to the sport.

Her older sister, Chayla Edwards, played college hockey for Wisconsin. Having another hockey player in the family gave Laila someone who understood the training, travel and pressure connected with competitive sport.

Wisconsin’s official profile lists her parents as Robert Edwards and Charone Gray-Edwards. It also records two brothers and two sisters.

Early Life and Start in Hockey

Edwards started skating at about three years old.

During childhood, she developed her movement through hockey, figure-skating and speed-skating instruction. These different forms of training helped her improve her balance, control and confidence on the ice.

Her talent became clear at a young age. Coaches recommended that she compete against older players because she was already physically strong and technically advanced.

As her skills improved, Edwards and her family looked for stronger development opportunities outside Ohio.

She later joined the Selects Academy programme at Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, New York. Moving away from home allowed her to train and compete against some of the best young female hockey players in North America.

Bishop Kearney and Selects Academy Career

Edwards spent five years with the Selects Academy hockey programme.

Between 2018 and 2022, she produced 413 points in 287 games. This total included 147 goals and 266 assists.

During the 2021–22 under-19 season, she recorded 38 goals and 59 assists for 97 points.

These numbers showed that she was more than a physically powerful player. She could also create chances for teammates, control possession and perform consistently throughout a long season.

Her performances earned attention from major university hockey programmes and the United States national-team system.

Junior Team USA Success

Edwards represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship.

She scored eight points and helped the American team win a silver medal. Her overall performance earned her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

Winning the award was an important breakthrough. It showed that she could perform under pressure against the strongest young international players.

She also missed her high-school graduation ceremony because she was representing her country at the tournament.

University of Wisconsin Career

Edwards joined the University of Wisconsin before the 2022–23 season.

Wisconsin has one of the strongest women’s hockey programmes in the United States. The move placed her inside a competitive environment with experienced coaches, national-team players and championship expectations.

The official University of Wisconsin athlete profile lists her as a defence and forward player who wore jersey number 10.

First Season and 2023 NCAA Championship

Edwards appeared in 41 games during her first Wisconsin season.

She recorded:

• 13 goals
• 14 assists
• 27 points
• Two game-winning goals

She scored in Wisconsin’s national semifinal victory over Minnesota and helped the Badgers win the 2023 NCAA national championship.

Her first-season performances earned her a place on the WCHA All-Rookie Team and the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.

Breakout 2023–24 Season

Edwards made a major improvement during her second college season.

She scored 21 goals and added 35 assists in 41 games. Her total of 56 points was more than double her first-season total.

She recorded 17 games with more than one point and scored her first college hat-trick in a victory over Bemidji State.

Wisconsin reached the national championship game again, although the team did not win the title that year.

NCAA Scoring Leader in 2024–25

The 2024–25 season became one of Edwards’s strongest college campaigns.

She scored an NCAA-leading 35 goals and added 36 assists. Her 71 points set a new personal college record.

Edwards also scored a hat-trick against Minnesota in the NCAA Frozen Four. Wisconsin went on to win the 2025 national championship.

Her performances earned several major honours, including:

• First-Team All-American
• First-Team All-WCHA
• NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team
• Top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award

The Patty Kazmaier Award is presented to the best player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey.

Final Wisconsin Season

Edwards returned for the 2025–26 season and served as an alternate captain.

She recorded 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points in 28 games. Her season was interrupted by international responsibilities at the Winter Olympics, but she still played an important role in Wisconsin’s championship run.

The Badgers won the 2026 NCAA national title, giving Edwards her third championship in four college seasons.

She also became Wisconsin’s career leader in NCAA tournament goals. Her 12 tournament goals moved her ahead of former Badgers star Hilary Knight.

Laila Edwards’s Wisconsin Career Statistics

Season	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
2022–23	41	13	14	27
2023–24	41	21	35	56
2024–25	41	35	36	71
2025–26	28	12	33	45
Career total	151	81	118	199

Edwards completed her Wisconsin career with 199 points in 151 appearances. She won NCAA national titles in 2023, 2025 and 2026.

Historic Senior Team USA Debut

Edwards received her first invitation to the senior United States women’s national team in November 2023.

She made her senior international debut during the Rivalry Series against Canada.

The appearance made her the first Black woman to play for the senior United States women’s hockey team in international competition.

Edwards understood that the moment carried meaning beyond one game. She publicly discussed the importance of helping young girls, especially girls of colour, believe that they could belong in hockey.

2024 World Championship MVP

Edwards represented the United States at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

She scored six goals from only ten shots and finished the tournament with eight points. Her most memorable performance came in the semifinal against Finland, when she scored a hat-trick.

The United States finished with the silver medal after losing the championship game to Canada.

Despite the final defeat, Edwards was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. At 20 years old, she became the youngest player to receive the senior women’s world-championship MVP award.

USA Hockey later named her the 2024 Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year.

World Championship Gold in 2025

Edwards returned to the United States team for the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

Team USA won the gold medal, giving her a senior world title one year after earning silver.

The result strengthened her position inside the national team and helped prepare her for selection to the 2026 Olympic squad.

Making Olympic History in 2026

Edwards was selected for the United States women’s hockey team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Her first appearance made her the first Black woman to compete for the United States in Olympic women’s hockey.

She scored her first Olympic goal against Canada on February 10, 2026. She later scored again against Italy.

Edwards completed the tournament with two goals and six assists for eight points. She was one of Team USA’s leading scorers and was selected for the Olympic Media All-Star Team.

Her Olympic path places her among a new generation of young Winter Olympians who reached major international competition early in their careers.

Olympic Gold Medal Game

The United States faced Canada in the 2026 Olympic gold-medal game.

Canada held a 1–0 lead late in the contest. With the American goaltender removed for an extra attacker, Edwards directed the puck towards the net.

Team USA captain Hilary Knight redirected the shot to score the tying goal with just over two minutes remaining.

The United States later won 2–1 and secured the Olympic gold medal.

Edwards therefore became the first Black woman to win an Olympic hockey gold medal while representing the United States.

PWHL San Jose Draft Selection

The next major step in Edwards’s career arrived on June 17, 2026.

PWHL San Jose selected her fourth overall in the first round of the 2026 PWHL Draft. She became the expansion organisation’s first opening-round draft choice.

San Jose announced her as a defender, although she has significant experience playing forward.

Her ability to perform in both positions made her one of the most interesting players available in the draft. She brought a combination of height, strength, shooting ability, international experience and championship success.

The selection gave Edwards an opportunity to continue her career in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the leading professional women’s hockey competition in North America.

Playing Style and Main Strengths

Edwards is known for combining physical size with offensive skill.

She has a powerful shot and can score from distance. Her height also helps her protect the puck, compete near the goal and challenge opponents along the boards.

Her main strengths include:

• A strong and accurate shot
• Ability to play forward or defence
• Confidence carrying the puck
• Physical strength
• Scoring from difficult positions
• Creating chances for teammates
• Performing in important tournament games

She has shown that a tall player does not need to rely only on physical power. Edwards also uses control, awareness and quick decision-making to influence games.

How Tall Is Laila Edwards?

Official sources provide slightly different height measurements.

The University of Wisconsin lists Edwards as 6 feet tall. USA Hockey’s Olympic roster lists her as 6 feet 1 inch and 185 pounds.

The difference may come from measurements recorded at different times. It is therefore safer to describe her as approximately 6 feet to 6 feet 1 inch tall.

Work Ethic and Public Image

Edwards has developed a reputation for remaining calm during major competitions.

Coaches and teammates have praised her confidence, powerful shot and willingness to accept different responsibilities. She has moved between forward and defence without allowing the change to reduce her influence.

Like many American professional athletes, her development required years of training, travel and competition before reaching the senior level.

Her record also shows that she performs well in important games. She has scored in NCAA tournament matches, international semifinals and Olympic competition.

Education and Academic Recognition

Edwards balanced college hockey with her studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

She received Academic All-Big Ten recognition for the 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years. She also earned WCHA All-Academic recognition.

These awards show that she maintained academic responsibilities while competing in a demanding college and international hockey schedule.

Major Awards and Achievements

• 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship MVP
• 2022 Under-18 World Championship silver medal
• 2023 NCAA national champion
• 2023 WCHA All-Rookie Team
• 2023 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team
• 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship MVP
• 2024 World Championship silver medal
• 2024 Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year
• 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medal
• 2025 NCAA national champion
• 2025 First-Team All-American
• 2025 First-Team All-WCHA
• 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award top-three finalist
• 2026 Olympic gold medallist
• 2026 Olympic Media All-Star Team
• 2026 NCAA national champion
• Fourth overall selection in the 2026 PWHL Draft

Why Laila Edwards’s Career Is Important

Edwards’s importance comes from both performance and representation.

She did not make history simply by joining Team USA. She became a world-championship MVP, an Olympic champion, an NCAA scoring leader and a three-time national champion.

Her success challenges the idea that hockey belongs to only one type of community or background.

For young players who rarely see people like themselves in elite hockey, her career provides a visible example of what is possible.

She is still at the beginning of her professional journey. Her college and international achievements have already created a strong foundation for the next stage of her career.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Laila Edwards?

Laila Edwards is 22 years old as of July 2026. She was born on January 25, 2004.

Where is Laila Edwards from?

She is from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States.

What is Laila Edwards famous for?

She is famous for becoming the first Black woman to play for the senior United States women’s national hockey team. She also became the first Black woman to represent Team USA in Olympic hockey.

Did Laila Edwards win an Olympic medal?

Yes. She won a gold medal with the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Which college did Laila Edwards attend?

She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and played for the Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team.

How many NCAA championships did she win?

She won three NCAA national championships with Wisconsin in 2023, 2025 and 2026.

What position does Laila Edwards play?

She can play both defence and forward. Team USA used her as a defender during the 2026 Olympics.

Which PWHL team drafted Laila Edwards?

PWHL San Jose selected her fourth overall in the first round of the 2026 PWHL Draft.

How many points did she score for Wisconsin?

She recorded 199 points from 151 college games, including 81 goals and 118 assists.

Conclusion

Laila Edwards has quickly developed one of the strongest records among young American hockey players.

She moved from youth hockey in Ohio to Selects Academy, the University of Wisconsin, Team USA and the professional draft. Along the way, she won three NCAA championships, a world title and an Olympic gold medal.

Her historic achievements have helped improve representation in American hockey, but her sporting results remain equally important. She has proved herself as a scorer, defender, teammate and big-game performer.

With her college career complete and PWHL San Jose selecting her fourth overall, Edwards now enters the next stage of an already remarkable hockey journey.