USA has played in every Olympic women's hockey tournament since 1998, but for the first time in US national team history, a Black woman stepped on the ice as a member of Team USA at the Olympic Games.
Laila Edwards formally made history on Thursday becoming the first Black woman in American national hockey team history to play for Team USA at the Olympics.
Edwards, 22, logged 20:46 playing on USA's blueline in their 5-1 win over Czechia to open the 2026 Olympic women's hockey tournament.
Edwards also assisted on the opening goal of the game picking up a secondary helper on Alex Carpenter's power play marker.
History made. ✨
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 5, 2026
Laila Edwards becomes the first Black woman to compete for the U.S. Olympic Women’s @usahockey Team.#WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/HFqeasUMdG
A senior at Wisconsin, Edwards is expected to be a top five pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft following the season.
She's one of seven NCAA players representing USA in Milano Cortina. Edwards was also USA's first Black woman to represent USA at the World Championships, a mark she set when she earned tournament MVP honors for USA in 2024.
Category: General Sports
