University of Wisconsin forward Laila Edwards, who completed her sophomore season with the Badgers in 2023-24, has been selected as the 2024 Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year award recipient by USA Hockey.
Edwards, along with 11 other USA Hockey award winners will be honored at the organization's President's Award Dinner on Friday, June 7, at the Denver Marriott Tech Center as part of its four-day Annual Meeting that begins on June 5.
Edwards etched her name in the hockey history books this season becoming the youngest American skater to be named MVP at an IIHF Women’s World Championship. The Cleveland, Ohio, native earned the honor after posting a tournament-leading six-goal performance at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, helping to anchor the U.S. to its 23rd-straight medal in the event.
Laila Edwards
Edwards, who became the first Black woman to skate for the U.S. Women’s National Team at an international event, recorded eight points, the third highest point total at the tournament. She notched her first career goal during the team’s preliminary round game against Czechia and also posted her first career hat trick during a 5-0 semifinal victory against Finland.
She shined in the gold medal game, recording a team-leading two points, including the first U.S. goal midway through the opening period. In addition to earning tournament MVP honors, she was also voted to the tournament’s Media All-Star Team.
As a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin during the 2023-24 season, Edwards recorded 56 points (21G, 35A), skating in all 41 of the Badgers’ games.
The forward earned Third Team All-WCHA honors, recording four points (2G, 2A) in the WCHA Final Faceoff championship game and a goal and assist in the national semifinal game against Colgate, propelling Wisconsin to an NCAA Frozen Four championship game appearance.
Edwards also represented Team USA during the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, making her U.S. Women’s National Team debut in a 5-2 victory over Canada at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles in game two of the series.