Laila Edwards becomes first Black woman to win gold with Team USA in women’s hockey

In victory, Team USA defender Laila Edwards made history at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina.

The 22-year-old Ohio native became the first Black American woman to win a gold medal in women’s hockey when the United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime Thursday night in the gold-medal game. Eight days earlier, Edwards played her first game with the Americans at the Olympic tournament, becoming the first Black woman to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games.

Edwards played a crucial role in the Americans’ victory, firing a shot on net in the final moments of regulation before American forward Hilary Knight tipped the puck past Canadian goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens. The goal tied the game at 1-1 and propelled both teams to overtime, where forward Megan Keller scored a highlight-reel goal to win the game for Team USA.

Edwards was one of three Black women on the ice, as Canada iced two Black players of their own in forward Sarah Nurse and defender Sophie Jaques, both teammates with the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Vancouver Goldeneyes. Nurse made history as the first Black woman to win a gold medal in women’s hockey when Canada won the Olympic tournament in 2022. She set a record for most assists and points in a single tournament in the process.

Edwards currently plays for the Wisconsin Badgers as a forward, with eight goals and 36 points in 21 games. Edwards’ 1.71 points per game is sixth-best among players in the NCAA this season. She led the NCAA in scoring last year before winning a national championship with the Badgers.