Laila Edwards: A Power Forward Built for Hockey’s Biggest Moments

Some players generate hype. Others just show up and produce.

Laila Edwards is firmly in the second category.

The young American forward has quickly become one of the most impactful rising players in women’s hockey thanks to a blend of size, skill, and on-ice instincts that coaches can’t teach. Whether she’s wearing a Team USA jersey on the international stage or competing with the University of Wisconsin, Edwards plays a pro-style game that translates at every level.

Courtesy of the NCAA | Laila Edwards

Built Like a Power Forward, Skilled Like a Playmaker

At 6 feet tall, Edwards brings a physical presence that immediately stands out, but it’s how she uses that frame that makes her dangerous.

Courtesy of Sarah Stier Getty | Laila Edwards Makes History as First Black Woman on Team USA Hockey

She plays a true modern power-forward game:

• Strong puck protection down low

• Willingness to battle at the net front

• Soft hands in tight scoring areas

• Vision to distribute when defenders collapse

  
  

She’s not just hard to move off the puck; she can make you pay once you fail to.

Her background as a multi-sport athlete, including high-level basketball, shows up in her balance, footwork, and spatial awareness. You see it in how she boxes out defenders, finds seams, and times her routes into scoring areas.

Breakout Performances with Team USA

Edwards announced herself internationally with poised, clutch performances at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, where she contributed key goals and played with a calmness that looked far beyond her years.

Courtesy of Amber Searls | Olympic Gold Medalist Laila Edwards

On a roster stacked with veterans, she didn’t play like a development piece; she played like someone who belonged in the moment.

That tournament also produced a memorable off-ice story. After learning Edwards’ family might not be able to attend in person, NFL brothers Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce stepped in to help fund travel so her family could be there to watch her compete. The gesture drew attention across the sports world and underscored how compelling Edwards’ journey and talent already are to fans beyond hockey.

Thriving in Wisconsin’s Championship Culture

At Wisconsin, one of the NCAA’s premier women’s hockey programs, Edwards continues to refine the details of her game. The Badgers demand structure, pace, and responsibility away from the puck, all areas where she has grown rapidly.

Courtesy of Opendorse

Her collegiate development has emphasized:

• Playing through contact without slowing possession

• Becoming a reliable two-way forward

• Creating offense off the cycle, not just in transition

• Learning how to dictate tempo, not chase it

  
  

She’s evolving from a talented scorer into a complete player, the kind that can anchor a top line at the international and professional levels.

Why Coaches Love Her Game

Edwards doesn’t rely on one dimension. She affects games in multiple ways, which is why her projection remains so high.

What separates her:

• Size + hockey IQ combination that’s rare in the women’s game

• Net-front scoring ability - still one of hockey’s hardest skills

• Composure in big moments that can’t be manufactured

• Coachability and upward trajectory - she’s still developing

A Name to Watch as the Game Continues to Grow

Women’s hockey is getting faster, deeper, and more competitive globally. Players who can blend physicality with skill are becoming increasingly valuable - and Edwards fits that evolution perfectly.

She isn’t just a great story. She’s a player who wins puck battles, creates offense, and changes how opponents have to defend.

And she’s only at the beginning of what looks like a very long career.

Edited by: Megan Livengood