Laila Edwards is preparing for her Olympic debut knowing her family will be there to see it, thanks in part to a quiet but meaningful gesture from Travis and Jason Kelce.
As she gets ready to represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the 21-year-old says the support reflects the strength of the Cleveland Heights community that helped shape her journey.
Edwards, who made history as the first Black woman selected to the U.S. women’s national hockey team, spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about the role the Kelce brothers have played behind the scenes. The connection began not through personal introductions, but through recognition.
“When I first made the national team, they shouted me out on their podcast for being the first Black woman to play on team,” Edwards said, referring to Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast and a November 2023 episode that caught her by surprise.
“I thought, ‘I’ll just message them, thanking them, they’ll never see it. 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.
“They shouted me out again recently for making the Olympic team!”
When encouragement turns into action
That public support eventually became something more personal. Edwards revealed that Travis Kelce donated to her family’s GoFundMe, which was set up to help cover flights and accommodation so they can travel to Milan and watch her compete.
“They’ve helped out with my family’s GoFundMe to go over there and support me,” she added. “My family put up a GoFundMe, and [Travis] donated… he’s been in touch a little bit on how else he can help.”
“So I mean, those are just really good guys. They’re really good people, too, outside of their athletic abilities.”
There is also a chance the support could become face to face. With Jason Kelce’s wife Kylie involved in Olympic content creation for NBC and YouTube, Edwards is hopeful their paths will cross.
“Travis was saying that Jason and Kylie are big fans of mine, and I’m hoping to meet them all in Italy,” she says.
While the Kelce brothers have helped in a meaningful way, Edwards is clear about where her foundation lies. She credits her parents, Robert Edwards and Charone Gray Edwards, for the sacrifices that made her career possible from the time she first stepped on the ice at age four.
“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.”
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