Laila Edwards Named USA Hockey's Women's Player of the Year

Team USA and University of Wisconsin star Laila Edwards has been named USA Hockey's Women's Player of the Year winning the Bob Allen award.

Laila Edwards has been named the 2024 recipient of USA Hockey's Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year award

Edwards made history this season becoming the first Black woman to ever represent USA's senior national team and the youngest American in history to earn MVP honors at the IIHF women's World Championships.

“I’m so grateful to win the Bob Allen Player of the Year Award,” Edwards said. “To be alongside such an incredible list of players and to be presented with such a special award, it’s an honor to say the least.” 

At Worlds Edwards scored eight points helping USA to a silver medal. That included her first career hat trick in USA's 5-0 semifinal win over Czechia, and another goal and an assist in the gold medal game.

At the NCAA level with the University of Wisconsin, Edwards scored 56 points including 21 goals in 41 games. 

Edwards, 20, previously won MVP honors at the U-18 World Championships with USA. The 6-foot-1 forward hails from Cleveland Heights, Ohio.