Laila Edwards Makes Olympic History with Family Support Funded by Kelce Brothers
As US hockey defender Laila Edwards steps onto the Olympic ice for Thursday's gold medal match against Canada, her eyes will search the stands for a very special supporter: her 91-year-old grandmother, Ernestine Gray. This heartfelt tradition, a powerful moment of family connection, became possible thanks to a remarkable community fundraising effort, significantly boosted by a generous donation from NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce.
A Historic Olympic Debut
Edwards has already made history as the first Black female hockey player to represent the United States at the Olympic Games. Her journey to Milan has been supported by a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $61,000, enabling ten family members and four friends to travel from the United States to witness her Olympic debut, with additional relatives covering their own expenses.
"As she comes in, she's looking around," Ernestine Gray told The Associated Press about their arena ritual. "Then I say, 'I won't do anything to distract her.' Then she did see me and I wave to her and then she waved back."
Financial Hurdles and Community Support
The road to Milan presented significant challenges for the Edwards family. When Laila informed her parents of her Olympic selection just one month before the Games, they faced daunting financial obstacles. While they could manage costs for two people, bringing the entire family who had supported her throughout her career seemed impossible.
"We had to start talking about how to get money," recalled her mother, Charone Gray-Edwards. "Who would go? How would we afford it?" The family had deliberately avoided booking early flights or cheaper hotels, fearing it might jinx her selection chances.
Her father, Robert Edwards, launched the GoFundMe campaign with an ambitious $50,000 target titled "Send Laila's Family to the Olympics to Cheer Her On!" He explained his motivation: "There's a lot of ups and downs in playing hockey at this high level and so she's going to need somebody there. So I was like, 'Well, pride be damned: we're going to do a fundraiser.'"
Kelce Brothers' Significant Contribution
The largest individual donation came from Travis and Jason Kelce, who contributed $10,000 to the campaign. The brothers, who grew up in the same Cleveland Heights, Ohio community as Edwards, have been vocal supporters since 2023 when she became the first Black player on the US senior women's national team.
They gave her a shout-out on their popular "New Heights" podcast and have continued their support throughout her Olympic journey. Travis Kelce even offered advice to the "Queen of Cleveland," a nickname bestowed upon Edwards by her teammates. Jason Kelce and his wife Kylie were spotted in the stands cheering during Monday's 5-0 semi-final victory over Sweden, where Edwards secured an assist.
Breaking Barriers in Winter Sports
Edwards' historic achievement comes at a time when winter sports continue to show limited diversity. While sports like football have seen increasing representation, hockey remains predominantly white both in the United States and globally. Edwards' presence at the Milan Cortina Games represents significant progress and has inspired many in the Black community.
"Just to hear all the people of colour talking about, 'I've never watched hockey before and I'm tuning in,'" said Gray-Edwards. "I would love to know what the ratings are. Because everybody at home, everybody is talking about it. All these people are trying to buy jerseys."
She particularly values seeing young boys approach her daughter for autographs, noting: "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."
Family Bonds and Future Prospects
The Edwards family has supported Laila from afar throughout her career. She left home at 13 to attend Bishop Kearney Selects Academy in Rochester, New York, before moving to the University of Wisconsin, where she's currently playing her senior season for the top-ranked Badgers. Edwards is widely expected to be a top-three pick in the Professional Women's Hockey League draft in June.
For Gray-Edwards, the most cherished moments transcend the games themselves. "You can just see them waving at each other," she said of her mother and daughter's interactions at the rink. "My mother's like jumping and, oh, she just loves it."
Following Monday's semi-final victory, Edwards expressed to the AP that her family's presence in Milan "means everything to me." She added, "They helped me get here and make this team and achieve my dream, so it means a lot." As she prepares for Thursday's gold medal match, Edwards carries not only her historic achievement but also the support of her family and community who made this Olympic journey possible.
