Laila Edwards Makes History as the First Black Woman to Score for Team USA’s Olympic Hockey Team – Because of Them We Can

Laila Edwards Makes Olympic History with Breakthrough Goal for Team USA

LA FOCUS NEWSPAPER — Laila Edwards made history in Milan, Italy, becoming the first Black woman to score an Olympic goal for Team USA after sealing a dominant group-stage win over Canada with the final shot in a four-goal surge, a milestone that helped propel the Americans into the medal round as tournament leaders.

Pioneering Black Hockey Player Already Has 1 Specific Impact On The Sport

U.S. star Laila Edwards is making a name for herself at the Winter Olympics ― and it’s having quite the effect.

Laila Edwards Makes History as the First Black Woman to Score for Team USA’s Olympic Hockey Team – Because of Them We Can

She didn’t just make the team, she made history! Laila Edwards, the 22-year-old Cleveland Heights, Ohio native, has officially cemented her name in the record books. During Team USA’s dominant 5-0 victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Edwards scored her first Olympic goal — becoming the first Black woman to score for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team. The moment came in the final minutes of the third period, after Edwards …

BHM: Laila Edwards making history at the 2026 Olympics

It has been nearly 30 years since women’s ice hockey made its debut in the Winter Olympics. In 2026, Laila Edwards became the first Black woman to represent the U.S. national ice hockey team.  Edwards was born on Jan. 5, 2004, in Cleveland Height, Ohio, to Robert and Charone Gray-Edwards. She has an older sister and brother as well as a younger brother. Edwards began skating at an early age; however, ice hockey was not her first sport. She did f…