In a heartwarming display of community support, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has quietly stepped up to assist a fellow Cleveland Heights native who is about to make Olympic history. Laila Edwards, the 21-year-old ice hockey star, is poised to become the first black player to represent the United States in women's hockey at the Winter Games next month.
A Historic Journey Faces Financial Hurdles
Despite earning her place on the prestigious US Olympic roster through exceptional talent and dedication, Edwards encountered a significant obstacle in sharing her historic moment with her loved ones. The substantial costs associated with international travel to Milan, Italy, where the Winter Olympics will be held, presented a formidable challenge for her family.
The Edwards family, which includes her parents and four siblings, established a GoFundMe campaign with a target of $50,000 to fund their journey to support Laila from the stands. 'We want nothing more than to travel to Italy to support her in her Olympic dream! This just isn't something that we can afford to do on our own,' explained a statement on the fundraising page.
Unexpected Support from an NFL Superstar
Enter Travis Kelce, the three-time Super Bowl champion who shares Edwards's Cleveland Heights roots. The NFL superstar, who has followed Edwards's career progression over recent years, made a substantial contribution to the family's fundraising effort.
'They've helped out with my family's GoFundMe to go over there and support me,' Edwards revealed to PEOPLE magazine. 'My family put up a GoFundMe, and [Travis] donated... he's been in touch a little bit on how else he can help.'
By Thursday morning, the campaign had already reached an impressive $47,218, significantly boosted by Kelce's generous donation and widespread community support.
A Supportive Relationship Beyond the Donation
The connection between Edwards and the Kelce brothers extends beyond this recent financial support. Back in 2023, when Edwards first earned her place on the US national team, both Travis and his brother Jason celebrated her achievement on their popular New Heights podcast.
'I thought, 'I'll just message them, thanking them, they'll never see it,'' Edwards recalled after hearing their podcast comments. 'And then Travis and I had a full conversation over DM, and that was super cool... he was a really down-to-earth, humble guy who was super supportive and had really good things to say.'
She added that the brothers recently gave her another shoutout for making the Olympic team, describing them as 'just really good people' outside of their glittering NFL careers.
Family Sacrifices Behind Olympic Success
Edwards was quick to credit her family for the immense sacrifices that have enabled her hockey career to flourish. Her parents, Robert Edwards and Charone Gray-Edwards, have invested significant time and financial resources to support her athletic development.
'Whether that was time, money... they are the reason I'm here,' she told PEOPLE. 'It sounds cliche, but it's very true. The tournaments I went to get exposure to get better, those cost a lot of money. We would probably be very well off if I didn't play hockey.'
The athlete elaborated on the substantial costs involved in elite ice hockey, noting: 'Ice is expensive. Then you got to pay for a coach, the equipment. I can't even put into words how much money they've put into this and left work early to take me to a game, take me to practice.'
A Rising Star in American Hockey
Despite being only a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Edwards has rapidly established herself as one of the most promising talents in American women's hockey. Her achievements are particularly remarkable given her youth and relatively recent emergence on the international stage.
At just 20 years old, she became the youngest American ever to win the Most Valuable Player award at the women's hockey world championships, helping the USA secure their eleventh title last April. This accomplishment underscores her exceptional skill and competitive maturity.
Building a New Generation of Olympic Talent
Coach John Wroblewski, who took charge of the US women's hockey team in June 2022, has deliberately focused on developing younger players as part of a strategic youth movement. Edwards represents a central component of this rebuilding effort.
The 23-player roster heading to Milan features just 11 returning members from the team that won silver at the 2022 Beijing Games. This substantial turnover reflects Wroblewski's commitment to refreshing the squad with emerging talent.
This year's Olympic team includes seven players who are still competing at college level, with 20-year-old Ohio State forward Joy Dunne being the youngest member. The entire goaltending trio of Aerin Frankel, Gwyneth Philips, and Ava McNaughton will be making their Olympic debuts, highlighting the team's youthful composition.
Olympic Context and Expectations
The US team enters the Milan Cortina Winter Games as strong favorites to claim the gold medal, despite their relatively inexperienced roster. They will be led by veteran Hilary Knight, who at 36 years old is preparing for her fifth Olympic appearance.
Knight will set a new US women's hockey record for most Winter Games appearances, having previously won gold in 2018 along with three silver medals. The Seattle Torrent captain has announced that these will be her final Winter Games, though she plans to continue her professional career in the PWHL.
For Laila Edwards, the journey to Milan represents not only a personal athletic pinnacle but also a historic breakthrough for diversity in winter sports. With the support of her family, her community, and unexpected benefactors like Travis Kelce, she is poised to make an unforgettable impact on the Olympic stage.
