A Black woman will make history at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Laila Edwards will officially become the first Black woman to represent Team USA in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics. Her selection to the 2026 Olympic squad was announced live on the TODAY show on January 2.
“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards told the Associated Press.
“Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go to the Olympics, for sure.”
A 21-year-old phenom representing the University of Wisconsin, Edwards is one of the best players in the spor. In 2023, she became the first Black woman to play for the U.S. senior national team, and in 2024, she made history as the youngest American ever to be named MVP of the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
In an essay for Wisconsin’s “Forging Firsts” series, Edwards spoke about how she always tried to “blend in” but “always stood out” as a girl playing sports with boys. Also, how she’s been a trailblazer as the only Black woman on her team.
“I assumed this would go away when I started playing on an all-girls team at the boarding school, but it didn’t,” she wrote. “While I loved my team, there were moments – like when they shared makeup routines – that highlighted my difference. None of the products they used matched my skin tone. Early on, all of this made it challenging for me to find myself and who I was comfortable being.”
Edwards also wrote that her identity sometimes overshadows her accomplishments.
“Will others see the sacrifices and dedication that got me here?” she wrote. “Will they understand the discipline demanded to attend 5am practices or the courage required to leave my loved ones to pursue my passion?”