November 12th 2023.
Laila Edwards made history on November 11th when she became the first Black woman to play for the United States Senior National hockey team. The 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Wisconsin humbly remarked to Andscape ahead of the contest, “It’s an honor to be the first Black woman on the national team, but this team’s been around for a long time. It would have been nice to have someone that looked like me on that team before me. I’m glad that I’m able to be that someone for another little Black girl out there.”
At 6’1 Edwards, the tallest player on the ice, has a unique set of skills that make her an imposing figure on the ice. Her Olympic debut at such a young age is a testament to her talent. Even four-time Olympian Hilary Knight was impressed by Edwards’ skill, commenting to The Athletic, “The way she can rip the puck, it looks like it’s about to break the glass or rip the netting. I wish I had all those things at that age.”
The Frozen Four appearance that earned her an inclusion on the all tournament team, alongside four of her teammates, only further cemented her place in Team USA. Her older sister, Chayla, is also on the Wisconsin team. Edwards won the World Under 18 Championship in 2022, and is eligible for the Olympic national team in the Winter Olympics competition in 2026, following in Jordan Greenway’s footsteps on the men’s side.
Team USA Coach John Wroblewski is also understanding of the gifts Edwards possesses, telling The Athletic, “I don’t think there’s another woman like her in the game right now.” Edwards’ inclusion on the roster positions her as a player to watch for the next world competition in 2024.
Chayla is excited to watch both the growth in her sister’s game and to see what this can lead to for future generations of Black girls who might be in the stands, dreaming of being where her sister is. “It’s very surreal,” Chayla said. “Beyond anything, I’m just really proud and excited for the younger girls to see her play. It’s going to bring me so much joy that she can be a person for them to look up to.”
This milestone moment is not only impactful for Laila Edwards. It is also a momentous occasion for Sophie Jaques and Sarah Nurse of Canada, who joined her on the ice that day. Edwards expressed her hope that she can be an inspiration for young girls of color, stating “I want to be an inspiration for all young girls — but especially young girls of color — so they’ll be able to look at me and say oh she can do it so I can do it too.” Tennessee State University also recently became the first Historically Black College and University to offer an ice hockey program. This is a momentous time for the Black hockey community and Edwards is proud to be a part of it.
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