Lyla Edwards’ parents say it has been hard to leave behind their life in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and miss much of their daughter’s upbringing as she chased her dream of playing Olympic women’s hockey. Thanks to a wave of donations — including a $10,000 contribution from hometown NFL brothers Travis and Jason Kelce — the family will now be able to travel to Italy next week to watch Edwards make her Olympic debut at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Games.
A GoFundMe set up after Edwards made the U.S. roster topped $59,000 by Wednesday, surpassing its $50,000 goal. The family plans to bring as many as 14 relatives, from Lyla’s maternal grandmother Ernestine Gray to her young nephew Shiloh. “Oh my god,” Lyla’s mother, Sharon Gray-Edwards, said. “I’ve been trying to find the words to express my gratitude, but I haven’t found them yet.” Her father, Robert Edwards, added, “We’re humbled by it.”
Edwards left home at 13 to attend Bishop Kearney Select Academy in Rochester, New York, later relocating to Wisconsin, where she is finishing her senior season with the top-ranked Badgers. “Obviously my name is on the roster, but I feel like my whole family got to go to the Olympics,” she told The Associated Press on a Zoom call. “I really appreciate all the sacrifices they’ve made, everything they’ve done to get me here… It’s going to be really special for them to be here and share this experience.”
The 22-year-old is widely viewed as a rising star in women’s hockey and will be the first Black female hockey player to represent the United States at the Olympics. A 6-foot-1, 195-pound player who moved from forward to defense, Edwards brings notable speed and playmaking ability. Though she has spent much of her life away from Cleveland, she still identifies strongly with the city — cheering for LeBron James and admiring local figures like the Kelce brothers — and even met Blake Bolden of nearby Euclid, Ohio, the first Black player in the NWHL who now scouts for the Los Angeles Kings. After the U.S.-Canada game in Cleveland last November, teammates nicknamed her the “Queen of Cleveland.”
Edwards said she was particularly touched by the Kelces’ support; beyond their donation, Travis Kelce reached out personally to tell her people are rooting for her. Her mother was moved by strangers who approached her in Wisconsin and said they had contributed what they could. Any leftover GoFundMe money is expected to be used to give back to the community — for example, buying hockey equipment and funding free ice time. “We really want to honor the money that’s been given to us,” Edwards said. (Associated Press)
Fan Take: NFL fans should care because the Kelce brothers’ involvement highlights how players can use their platform to uplift athletes in other sports and communities. That crossover support helps grow hockey’s visibility and diversity, which can broaden the fan base and enrich the overall American sports landscape.
