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

BREAKING: The Rock Declines $200 Million Role at Disney, States He Won’t Participate in “Woke Culture”

In an unexpected twist that has sent shockwaves across Hollywood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, one of the industry’s most bankable stars, has reportedly declined a staggering $200 million…

The Vatican announces that Pope Francis has passed away

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died, Reuters reported. The information was announced by the Vatican in the video notice on April…

Tesla Is No Longer Elon Musk’s Most Valuable Asset

**Breaking News: Tesla Falls Behind as Musk’s SpaceX Surges Ahead** In a stunning turn of events, Tesla is no longer the crown jewel of Elon Musk’s empire, as SpaceX has officially surpassed the electric vehicle giant in value for the first time in five years. Musk’s fortune, once heavily anchored by Tesla, has shifted dramatically following a series of alarming developments. Musk’s financial landscape took a hit after he funneled over $200 million into Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, but he rebounded quickly, briefly becoming the world’s first $400 billion individual. However, Tesla’s stock has since plummeted by 50%, exacerbated by disappointing delivery numbers and concerns over Musk’s divided attention as he juggles his new role in the Trump administration. Recent reports indicate that Tesla’s revenue growth has stagnated to a mere 1% in 2024, while net income has declined for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, shocking drops in vehicle sales have been documented across key markets, including Germany, China, and Australia. As public sentiment turns against Musk, protests have erupted at Tesla dealerships nationwide, amplifying the urgency of the situation. The turmoil doesn’t end there. Musk’s appeal of a Delaware court ruling that invalidated a lucrative pay package has further complicated his financial stability. Forbes has slashed the value of Musk’s stock options by 50%, revealing that his stake in Tesla is now worth $97.8 billion, significantly less than the soaring valuation of SpaceX. With SpaceX’s value now estimated at $147 billion—almost $20 billion more than Musk’s Tesla holdings—this shift marks a seismic change in Musk’s financial narrative. SpaceX’s revenue surged by 51% to $13.1 billion in 2024, buoyed by the booming Starlink satellite internet service. As the dust settles, it’s clear that Musk’s fortunes are in flux, and the landscape of his empire is shifting dramatically. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor these developments closely.

Tesla Is No Longer Elon Musk’s Most Valuable Asset

**Breaking News: Tesla Falls Behind as Musk’s SpaceX Surges Ahead** In a stunning turn of events, Tesla is no longer the crown jewel of Elon Musk’s empire, as SpaceX has officially surpassed the electric vehicle giant in value for the first time in five years. Musk’s fortune, once heavily anchored by Tesla, has shifted dramatically following a series of alarming developments. Musk’s financial landscape took a hit after he funneled over $200 million into Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, but he rebounded quickly, briefly becoming the world’s first $400 billion individual. However, Tesla’s stock has since plummeted by 50%, exacerbated by disappointing delivery numbers and concerns over Musk’s divided attention as he juggles his new role in the Trump administration. Recent reports indicate that Tesla’s revenue growth has stagnated to a mere 1% in 2024, while net income has declined for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, shocking drops in vehicle sales have been documented across key markets, including Germany, China, and Australia. As public sentiment turns against Musk, protests have erupted at Tesla dealerships nationwide, amplifying the urgency of the situation. The turmoil doesn’t end there. Musk’s appeal of a Delaware court ruling that invalidated a lucrative pay package has further complicated his financial stability. Forbes has slashed the value of Musk’s stock options by 50%, revealing that his stake in Tesla is now worth $97.8 billion, significantly less than the soaring valuation of SpaceX. With SpaceX’s value now estimated at $147 billion—almost $20 billion more than Musk’s Tesla holdings—this shift marks a seismic change in Musk’s financial narrative. SpaceX’s revenue surged by 51% to $13.1 billion in 2024, buoyed by the booming Starlink satellite internet service. As the dust settles, it’s clear that Musk’s fortunes are in flux, and the landscape of his empire is shifting dramatically. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor these developments closely.

Elon Musk Has Made Many People Rich. Not His Ex-Wives

In a striking exposé, Forbes reveals the stark financial reality faced by Elon Musk’s first wife, Justine Wilson, amidst his monumental rise to wealth. While Musk has amassed a staggering $364 billion, Justine is left with a mere $15 million. The shocking contrast serves as a painful reminder of their tumultuous past, which includes the tragic loss of their first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 and the 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 of five more. Married from 2000 to 2008, Justine’s life took a drastic turn as she navigated the complexities of motherhood and her husband’s burgeoning career, which would eventually propel him to the top of the global wealth hierarchy. Despite her sacrifices and contributions, including publishing three novels, Justine’s financial fate diverged sharply from Musk’s explosive success. The divorce proceedings were fraught with conflict. Justine’s requests for a fair share of Musk’s burgeoning empire—which included 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 support, Tesla shares, and a Glacier Blue Tesla Roadster—were met with resistance. Musk initially offered $80 million, but Justine rejected the settlement, hoping for equity in his growing companies. Instead, she ended up with substantially less after a long legal battle that saw Musk’s wealth skyrocket. The ramifications of their divorce continue to echo today, illustrating not just the vast inequities in wealth distribution among ex-spouses but also Musk’s controversial approach to family and financial agreements. As he expands his “legion of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren” with multiple partners, the story of Justine Wilson stands out as a cautionary tale of what can happen when an extraordinary ascent to wealth leaves the personal behind. For full details, visit Forbes.com and read the comprehensive article by Ker Dolan and John Hyatt.

Elon Musk Has Made Many People Rich. Not His Ex-Wives

In a striking exposé, Forbes reveals the stark financial reality faced by Elon Musk’s first wife, Justine Wilson, amidst his monumental rise to wealth. While Musk has amassed a staggering $364 billion, Justine is left with a mere $15 million. The shocking contrast serves as a painful reminder of their tumultuous past, which includes the tragic loss of their first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 and the 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 of five more. Married from 2000 to 2008, Justine’s life took a drastic turn as she navigated the complexities of motherhood and her husband’s burgeoning career, which would eventually propel him to the top of the global wealth hierarchy. Despite her sacrifices and contributions, including publishing three novels, Justine’s financial fate diverged sharply from Musk’s explosive success. The divorce proceedings were fraught with conflict. Justine’s requests for a fair share of Musk’s burgeoning empire—which included 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 support, Tesla shares, and a Glacier Blue Tesla Roadster—were met with resistance. Musk initially offered $80 million, but Justine rejected the settlement, hoping for equity in his growing companies. Instead, she ended up with substantially less after a long legal battle that saw Musk’s wealth skyrocket. The ramifications of their divorce continue to echo today, illustrating not just the vast inequities in wealth distribution among ex-spouses but also Musk’s controversial approach to family and financial agreements. As he expands his “legion of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren” with multiple partners, the story of Justine Wilson stands out as a cautionary tale of what can happen when an extraordinary ascent to wealth leaves the personal behind. For full details, visit Forbes.com and read the comprehensive article by Ker Dolan and John Hyatt.

Leave a Reply

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