University of Wisconsin women’s hockey player Laila Edwards, about to make history as a member of Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics, got a big lift from Travis Kelce in her quest to fund her family’s trip.
Edwards, 21, told People magazine that the NFL tight end donated to her family’s GoFundMe, aimed to help family members afford flights and hotels to cheer her on at the games beginning in early February in Italy.
As of Jan. 21, the GoFundMe had reached 91% of its $50,000 goal.
Travis and his famous football brother, Jason, first acknowledged Edwards’ success on their popular podcast, “New Heights,” on a 2023 episode. When Edwards reached out on social media to thank them, she and Travis struck up a conversation over direct message. Edwards hails from same hometown as Jason and Travis – Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
The brothers gave her another shoutout when she officially made the Olympic team. She’s one of four current Badgers suiting up for Team USA and one of six current or former Badgers on the team.
Edwards, already the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s hockey team, will likewise become the first to play for Team USA in the Olympics.
Edwards said she hopes to meet Travis and Jason in-person for the first time in Italy, with Jason’s wife, Kylie, part of NBC’s content team.
Edwards was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, the award for the women’s hockey player of the year, last season, and she’s fourth on the Badgers this season with 33 points. UW sits as the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin hockey’s Laila Edwards gets Olympics boost from Travis Kelce
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
