MILAN (AP) — As Laila Edwards skates onto the Olympic ice today, , ahead of the gold medal game against Canada, she’ll be scanning the stands for a very special audience: her 91-year-old grandmother. The presence of her family, and many others, is a testament to an outpouring of support that has allowed them to witness a historic moment.
Edwards is the first Black female hockey player to represent the U.S. At the Olympics. Her journey to Milan has been fueled by dedication and sacrifice, often requiring her to be away from her roots in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Now, thanks to a successful GoFundMe campaign, and a significant contribution from NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce, that support system will be cheering her on in person.
The fundraising effort was born out of a practical concern. When Edwards received the news she’d made the Olympic team, her parents realized the financial burden of getting the entire family to Italy. “We had to start talking about how to get money,” her mother, Charone Gray-Edwards, told the Associated Press. “Who would go? How would we afford it?” The initial goal was $50,000 to cover travel and lodging for ten family members and four friends.
The Kelce brothers, who grew up in the same town as Edwards, stepped up in a major way, donating $10,000 to the campaign. They had previously acknowledged Edwards’ achievement on their popular “New Heights” podcast in 2023, when she first made the U.S. Senior women’s national team. Edwards later confirmed to People Magazine that the donation came directly from Travis, and Jason.
The generosity didn’t stop there. The GoFundMe ultimately raised over $61,000, exceeding its initial target. This allowed not only immediate family – including Edwards’ parents, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and older brother – to make the trip, but also additional friends and relatives who were able to cover their own expenses, inspired by the community support.
For Edwards, the presence of her family is deeply meaningful. “They helped me get here and make this team and achieve my dream, so it means a lot,” she said after the semifinals game on Monday. The family has established a tradition of meeting 2 ½ hours before game time, dressed in Team USA gear, and traveling together to the rink.
The impact of Edwards’ achievement extends beyond her immediate family. She’s become a source of inspiration for the Black community in Ohio and across the country. Her mother noted the excitement surrounding her participation, with people who had never watched hockey before tuning in to see her play. “I would love to know what the ratings are,” Gray-Edwards said. “Because everybody at home, everybody is talking about it.”
Edwards’ story is particularly poignant given the historical lack of diversity in winter sports, and specifically in hockey. While other sports have seen increasing representation, hockey remains predominantly white, both in the U.S. And globally. Edwards is breaking barriers and opening doors for future generations of Black athletes.
The support she’s received isn’t just about financial assistance. it’s about recognition and validation. Seeing young boys approach her for autographs, her mother said, is particularly rewarding. “That means they’re not like, ‘Oh, this is a girl that plays hockey.’ They’re like, ‘This a good hockey player.’ So it doesn’t matter if she’s Black, a woman — she’s a good player.”
As Edwards prepares for today’s gold medal game, the focus is on the competition. But the journey to this point, and the unwavering support of her family and community, are integral to her success. The image of her waving to her 91-year-old grandmother in the stands, a moment captured during Monday’s semifinal win, encapsulates the emotional weight of this historic Olympic debut. It’s a moment that will undoubtedly resonate far beyond the rink in Milan.
