News

Laila Edwards becomes first Black woman to play for USA at a world championship: ‘A great feeling’

Laila Edwards has become the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s national team at a world championship.

Edwards, 20, became the first Black woman to play for Team USA in November, when she played in the 2023-24 Rivalry Series against Canada. Now a member of the 23-player roster at worlds and on the ice in Wednesday’s opener against Switzerland, Edwards has officially arrived on the international stage, and solidified her spot on the national team.

“I’m super honored to have this platform, and to break that barrier is a great feeling. My only hope and wish is that it continues to flood as I’ve broken it open,” Edwards told The Athletic after the game.

“I think making the national team is a great step. To be at the World Championships, and representing Team USA at the international level is a great further step in the right direction, which I hope continues.”

GO DEEPER

Meet the teenage phenom set to make history with Team USA — even Travis Kelce is a fan

With a combination of size — she stands 6-foot-1 — and s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁, Edwards is one of the most unique and exciting prospects in women’s hockey. She’s a highly s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed playmaker with the ability to slow the game down around her. She can find laser-thin seams in the ice, or see plays progress two steps ahead of her competition.

“I don’t think there’s another woman like her in the game right now,” said Team USA coach John Wroblewski.

Edwards just finished her sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin, where she doubled her point totals from her freshman year and finished top 10 in scoring in the NCAA with 56 points in 41 games. In the WCHA Finals, against top-ranked Ohio State, Edwards scored two goals and four points to lead the Badgers to a 6-3 win. In the NCAA Tournament, she scored three goals and five points in the first two rounds to send Wisconsin to a second-straight national championship game, which the Badgers lost 1-0 to Ohio State.

On Team USA, Edwards is slotted in as a bottom-six forward, alongside veteran players Kelly Pannek and Hayley Scamurra. Edwards is the tallest player on the U.S. national team — and taller than everyone on rival Canada’s — but she’s not your typical power forward and does not rely on pure physical ability.

“The interesting thing about her is that you look at the size and that she puts up points, but the most impressive thing about her (is her) brain,” said Wroblewski. “Her computer is extremely advanced. She’s got very nifty hands and she’s able to navigate the neutral zone extremely well. She’s sort of a dream to play with.”

Edwards grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio — the second-youngest of four 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren — and started figure skating with her older sister, Chayla, when she was a kid. She attended an elite girls’ hockey program at Bishop Kearney, a private school in Rochester, N.Y., and committed to Wisconsin after her freshman year of high school. In her first tournament with USA Hockey, the 2022 U18 women’s worlds, Edwards was a star. Nobody on Team USA had more points; nobody in the world had more goals; and she was named the top forward and MVP.

There have been other trailblazers in women’s hockey, such as Canadians Angela James, the first Black woman to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Sarah Nurse, who became the first Black woman to win an ice hockey gold medal at the Olympics in 2022. Julie Chu was the first Asian American to play for Team USA at the Olympics in 2002. And Abby Roque became the first Indigenous woman to represent Team USA at the Olympics in 2022.

Having a Black woman representing Team USA in international competition is a long-awaited first.

“I never anticipated being a role model. I was always searching for one myself, someone who resembled me and had similar aspirations,” Edwards wrote in an op-ed at Wisconsin. “But when I reflect on conversations with parents about how I’ve inspired their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 to play hockey, it reminds me of the path I get to create for others.”

Related Posts

Robert De Niro directly criticized Karoline Leavitt, calling her a “KKK b****” live on air. The reason is believed to be that Leavitt exposed the dark truth about Robert De Niro, leaving fans stunned

In a shocking and unexpected turn of events, Robert De Niro, one of Hollywood’s most revered actors, found himself embroiled in a fierce public controversy after calling Karoline…

BREAKING: 🇺🇸 Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn urges the Department of Justice to seize former President Barack Obama’s passports — citing national security concerns and revealing shocking secrets that have left people stunned

In a dramatic turn of events, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has ignited a firestorm by calling on the Department of Justice to seize former President Barack…

BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt Announces She’s Leaving the US—“I Got No Respect”. After facing backlash, Karoline Leavitt made a shocking announcement that sent shockwaves through social media, revealing one individual who forced her to leave the US

Karoline Leavitt, a rising figure in conservative political circles, made a stunning announcement late Tuesday that she is officially leaving the United States. Her unexpected departure has sparked…

Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner Opens In LA With Movie Screens, Robot Servers And Comfort Food

In 2025, Musk had shared his plan for the diner, stating that he was “gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates and rock restaurant at one of…

Trump releases evidence accusing Mr. Obama of committing treason

Trump accused the former US President Obama leading the conspiracy to “steal the election” in 2016, calling for punishment of “treason”. A few days after posting a video…

BBC News reports: 30 minutes ago! The White House faces backlash after President Trump hints at deporting billionaire Elon Musk amid the ‘America Party’ battle

BBC NEWS: TRUMP’S SHOCKING DEPORTATION THREAT AGAINST ELON MUSK SPARKS OUTRAGE AMID ‘AMERICA PARTY’ FEUD In a stunning escalation of political tensions, President Donald Trump has ignited a…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *