What Laila Edwards Brings to San Jose

Photo: Rebecca Labaj

Being drafted in the first round is pretty cool for any young player, but when you’re the first draft pick in a team’s history… well, evidently, you have some pretty large shoes to fill. 

There’s no one better suited for this role than Laila Edwards. Playing at the University of Wisconsin, Edwards totaled 154 points across 123 career games, and played in every single game in each of her three seasons in Wisconsin. Internationally, she has represented the USA on multiple occasions; most notably during the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she played a large role in bringing home a gold medal for the women’s team. 

And on the ice? She’s unstoppable. Throughout her college career, Edwards established and refined her game, and combined elite puck-moving skills with offensive abilities and finesse. Any team would be lucky to have her on their roster, and luckily for San Jose, they picked 4th overall and got to be the ones to call Edwards’ name. 

San Jose Fans: You Should Be Excited! 

Signing a goalie such as Corinne Schroeder already lets fans know what PWHL San Jose is about: winning. One of the newest PWHL teams started off with a bang when they signed the goalie, and they only went up from there with the addition of former Toronto Sceptres head coach, Troy Ryan. With the coaching and hockey knowledge that Ryan brings, one thing is clear – San Jose means business. 

Building from the ground up for any expansion team is never easy, but fans in San Jose should be excited with their foundation thus far. Inevitably, as goalies learn the crease, as defensive pairs learn chemistry, or forwards learn the best lines, there are going to be flaws – and that’s okay. Schroeder brings a solid presence to the crease, and let’s not forget Laila Edwards’ stats from college: she makes any team better with just her presence. Athletes went through the process last year in Seattle and Vancouver, so many of them know how difficult finding your footing in an expansion team is. Having backup like Schroeder helps calm the nerves down, and knowing you’re being protected in front by Laila Edwards helps, too. 

Every season provides teams an opportunity to show what they’re made of. It may be the first opportunity for San Jose this year, but backed up by the elite talent that Edwards brings to the table, we can’t wait to see what they’ll do. 

The Power of a Two Way Player 

Two way players are rare in any sport, but in the PWHL, having someone who is able to play both elite offence and defence is a definite asset. They bring elite offensive and defensive abilities to their teams, and though athletes like this are rare, San Jose needs to look no further than their 4th overall pick. 

While they already have power in the crease with their addition of Schroeder, having Laila Edwards cements San Jose’s core. Though Edwards declared for the PWHL Draft as defence, throughout college she bounced between playing defence and offence, allowing her to develop her offensive abilities and still be present in high leverage situations. Internationally, Edwards has played both forward and defence as well: during the 2025 World Championships, where she went on to win Gold with Team USA, she played forward and tallied 4 points across 7 games. 

Her position in the lineup aside, Edwards’ offensive abilities cannot be ignored. In the 2024 World Championships she accumulated a total of 8 points, with 6 goals and 2 assists. During Team USA’s game against Finland, Edwards scored a hat trick – helping her team advance to the Gold Medal game against Team Canada. Even in the 2026 Winter Olympics this year were Edwards’ offensive abilities on display: across all 7 games Team USA played, she totalled 8 points, and played an important role in securing a gold medal for her team. 

We often attribute defence in hockey to penalty killers, long shifts, and playmakers. But among other things, Edwards is helping to rewrite that narrative and is showing us how important offensive defenders are to their teams. For an expansion team finding their footing in particular, this two way style is a valuable asset, and further increases the value that Laila Edwards will bring to San Jose in the PWHL’s fourth season. 

So What’s To Come? 

The PWHL hasn’t released their schedule yet, but when they do, expect some exciting matchups. There is always the classic Toronto vs. Montreal, but for San Jose, who are proving themselves as much as the three other expansion teams, every game is going to be competitive. Plus, let’s not forget the excitement of the Takeover Tour dates, and which cities might get to experience PWHL hockey for the first time! 

Every team in their inaugural season has to work through new processes, new chemistry, and new coaches. But based on the vibes in San Jose so far, it seems like they’re aiming to be competitive right off the bat. There’s no avoiding the kinks that come with any expansion team, but it’s impossible to ignore the elite talent that Edwards can help curate in San Jose. Her offensive abilities are a huge asset to the new expansion team, and in a league where athletes are only getting better and better each year, that matters.

 It may not be perfect right away, but we can expect many more goal celebrations and smiles from the 4th overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft. Each year players understand the process in the PWHL more – they understand who they’re playing against, what upper management expects, and most of all, what they require to be the best player they can be. This league is only going to keep growing and getting better, and players like Laila Edwards and what she brings to  San Jose only prove that.