Women's Hockey
2026 Winter
Olympics
United States gold medalist Laila Edwards (left) had an assist on the game-tying goal, then Megan Keller (right) put the gold medal game away in OT. Julien de Rosa / AFP via Getty Images
The Athletic has live coverage of Canada vs. Finland and USA vs. Slovakia in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey semifinals.
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.
Advertisement
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.
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today's puzzle
Julian McKenzie is an NHL staff writer and contributor to the NHL’s news and enterprise team for The Athletic. McKenzie also hosts The Chris Johnston Show with The Athletic’s Chris Johnston. McKenzie is also the writer of the upcoming book, Black Aces, on Black hockey players and people. McKenzie’s work can also be found in The New York Times, FiveThirtyEight, the Montreal Gazette, the Canadian Press, TSN 690, CTV Montreal and more. Follow Julian on Twitter @jkamckenzie
Hockey News