Wisconsin women's hockey player 'going to be an absolute star' after World Championship debut (2024)

A reflection on the personal goals that Laila Edwards took into her first World Championship reveals a simplicity that's striking when compared to the reality that she lived.

Her ice time likely was going to be limited as a Team USA rookie but the University of Wisconsin women's hockey forward wanted to shine in those brief appearances.

"Make a statement and make it hard for the coaches not to play you much," she said.

Edwards did more than that with what might be one of the most efficient MVP performances ever. She tied for the tournament lead with six goals on just 10 shots.

A lower-line player, Edwards ranked 12th among 14 American forwards in ice time but her contribution exceeded her slot in the lineup.

"It almost didn't feel real for a little bit," she said. "But I felt like I was really motivated and locked in. I had a goal and was doing what I could to achieve it."

With Edwards as MVP and sophom*ore defender Caroline Harvey as an all-tournament selection, current Badgers players had starring roles in the World Championship in Utica, New York. It might continue the emergence of the next generation of players for USA Hockey.

Their performances earned kudos from around the hockey world. The popular hockey podcast "32 Thoughts" spent time on Harvey and Edwards this week, with host Jeff Marek praising Harvey's skating and intelligence and saying Edwards is "going to be an absolute star."

The growth in attention for the duo comes at a time when women's hockey is growing in attention itself. The debut of the Professional Women's Hockey League this season has introduced a professional element that hadn't been fully formed.

"It is such an honor to be in that category and in that topic of discussion," Edwards said. "There's also a little bit of pressure because women's hockey is growing, and to be a big part of that is awesome but you're under that much more spotlight. And what you do means that much more.

"It's definitely an honor because I'm so excited for where this sport is going with women's hockey. I think we have to take it as an honor and a privilege and do what we can to continue to grow it.

Edwards, Harvey and 2023-24 Badgers teammates Britta Curl, Lacey Eden and Kirsten Simms returned with silver medals from the World Championship after Canada won Sunday's final 6-5 in overtime. Former Badgers players Sarah Nurse, Emily Clark, Blayre Turnbull, Ann-Renée Desbiens and Kristen Campbell won gold with Canada, and Wisconsin and U.S. legend Hilary Knight set a record with her 14th World Championship medal, a silver.

Edwards and Harvey both scored in the gold-medal game but both experienced a powerful motivator three weeks after one arrived with the Badgers.

Wisconsin players spent the 2023 offseason as national champions. Harvey, Curl and Eden added the World Championship with Team USA a few weeks later. This summer will be different because the Badgers lost the NCAA championship game to Ohio State and the U.S. lost gold to Canada.

"I remember saying that to me there's no worse feeling than how I felt after the national championship game and then the gold medal game," Edwards said. "So the motivation is even greater to not feel that way again. The ride is different but they both mean a ton to me. The path going back to the national championship and the gold medal game is going to be tough but I think that motivation is going to be really helpful."

Edwards scored eight goals in her final eight games of her second season with the Badgers to reach 21 for the campaign. She was the first- or second-line left wing for most of the season, so limited ice time with the U.S. was a new experience.

She averaged 10 minutes, 44 seconds on the ice but had a two-goal game against Czechia and scored three in the semifinals against Finland.

"I knew she had that in her," said Harvey, who had the highest time-on-ice average for the U.S. at 23:30. "She's obviously a fantastic player. She's so amazing to watch and a great person in general. But I knew she was going to step it up. She has that in her. She has that 'it' factor, and it was amazing to see it come out at that level."

Playing at the most competitive level of women's hockey led Edwards into what she said is a big offseason for growth before her third season with the Badgers.

She experienced the faster pace of a U.S.-Canada game and knows what to work toward. She said she can get more shots on goal than the 10 she had for the tournament and get the puck off her stick faster.

"To stay at that level is going to be hard but it's definitely manageable," Edwards said. "Working as hard as I can, alongside such good players here, under a great coaching staff, I think it'll be a huge summer for me that I need to take advantage of."

Edwards wondered a few weeks ago whether she was ready for the World Championship level at 20 years old and after two years of college. She didn't have any doubts left after the tournament.

"I learned that I can arise to the occasion," Edwards said. "It was my first time there but it was no reason to be shy, no reason to hold back."