Hockey star Laila Edwards says representation is 'everything'
Hockey star Laila Edwards is no stranger to the spotlight, and she wants to make sure she's setting a positive example for others following in her footsteps.
The 22-year-old forward made history last month, becoming the first Black woman to win a gold medal with Team USA women's hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics, and she's also a three-time NCAA champion with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers.
"I love winning. Hockey's important, it's fun, but I want to leave a legacy of how I was as a role model, a leader and a person," Edwards said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "Good Morning America." "I think that's extremely important. People aren't going to remember how many goals I had but how many people I was able to positively impact."
Edwards said one of the most meaningful aspects of being a hockey star has been meeting young girls who come up to the Ohio native to share their support and tell her they see themselves in her.
"That is the greatest reward by far. I think, ever since making history, it's what I do it for," she said. "Those are the comments, that inspiration, it's everything, and I think representation matters, so to be that representation means the world."
Edwards is getting ready to graduate from Wisconsin in May with a degree in social welfare.
She told "GMA" she plans to pursue a professional hockey career next.
"That's the plan, entering the [2026 PWHL Draft], and the draft is at the end of June," Edwards said.
