Laila Edwards, a 22-year-old player, made history by being the first Black athlete to represent the US women's ice hockey team, and she celebrated her Olympic success with her family, who had raised funds through an online campaign to travel to Milan. On February 20, during the final match against Canada at the Winter Olympics held at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan, Edwards played a crucial role in helping the US team secure a 2-1 victory by assisting the game-tying goal in the third period, just as her team was trailing.

Edwards, originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, is a standout player in her senior year at the University of Wisconsin. At the age of 19, she was selected for the national team, and last year she made headlines by being the youngest player in team history to win the MVP award at the World Championships. Her journey has not only inspired her family but also brought attention to the sport of ice hockey, historically seen as less accessible for people of color.

Her family raised $61,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to attend the Olympics, with notable contributions from NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce, which underscored community support for Edwards. Her mother expressed pride in witnessing children seeking her daughter's autograph, emphasizing the importance of representation and the impact Edwards' success could have on the perception of diversity in sports.