For the last decade, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, has been known as the hometown of Jason and Travis Kelce. But for the next two weeks, the brothers, who combined for 15 All-Pro nominations and four Super Bowl victories, are ceding the spotlight to a new sports star.

On Thursday, 22-year-old Laila Edwards made her Olympic debut, helping the United States record a 5-1 win in their opening preliminary round against Czechia. In doing so, Edwards made history, becoming the first Black player to suit up for the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team.

But their shared hometown isn't just a fun tidbit. It's created a real bond between them. Jason and Travis actually grew up playing hockey before committing to football long term (countless NHL players must be relieved they never had to take a body check from them). And when Edwards became the first Black player to suit up for the U.S. senior women's national team in 2023, the brothers were instantly impressed.

“One of Cleveland Heights’ own, and University of Wisconsin forward, Laila Edwards. Shoutout to Leila Edwards. She’s set to become the first Black woman to play for Team USA senior hockey team,” Travis said on an October 2023 episode of their New Heights podcast, whose name pays tribute to their shared hometown. “You got my love and support. Go out there and hold it down for Team USA baby!”

 Edwards began playing the sport in Cleveland Heights at a young age alongside her brother Bobby and sister Shayla, with their younger brother Colson later joining. After moving to New York prep school at Bishop Kearney, where she joined forces with fellow American blue-liner Caroline Harvey, she and Shayla reunited at the University of Wisconsin. The two won the 2023 NCAA championship together playing under decorated head coach Mark Johnson, who won gold at the 1980 Olympics as part of the iconic Miracle on Ice team.

At that point, it was clear that Laila was a special player. She exploded in 2023, her sophomore season, scoring 21 goals and 56 points in just 41 games, leading to her promotion to the U.S. senior national team.

That led to her first interaction with Kelce brothers, but it wasn't the last. When a GoFundMe was set up by her parents Charone-Gray Edwards and Robert Edwards that aimed to raise $50,000 to travel to Milan to support her, Travis sent her a donation. The fund exceeded its goal by over $10,000, giving the Edwards family the opportunity to see Laila on the biggest stage of her career up close and personal.

“Thank you!” an update to the GoFundMe reads. “You did it! Because of each of you, we met and exceeded our goal! Laila will be surrounded with the love and support of family at the Olympics!”

In Milan, her family and fans alike will see her roaming the blue-line for the United States, which is not her natural role. Edwards developed as a forward but proposed moving to defense to U.S. head coach John Wroblewski in 2024. At 6-foot-1, the tallest member of the team, Edwards has the build of a shutdown defender, with a long reach with her stick and the ability to handle physical play, combined with the electric offensive abilities that made her the NCAA's leading goal scorer last season.

Though these are her first Olympics, Edwards is no stranger to big moments. She added a second NCAA national championship last March, tallying a goal and an assist in the title game. In her first world championship with the senior national team in 2024, she became the youngest American to win MVP, even though the U.S. lost in the final to Canada. She helped the U.S. secure a better result last year, all part of a résumé that is expected to make her one of the top draft picks in the Professional Women’s Hockey League later this year.

Sure enough, it didn't take long for her to make an impact in Milan. In the first period of the United States' first preliminary round game against Czechia, Edwards came on the ice as a member of the team's top power play unit. She gracefully moved in from the point to the left circle to set up Alex Carpenter for a scoring chance. When the rebound kicked back to Edwards, she quickly fed Megan Keller for a one-timer from the point, which Carpenter deflected in to open the scoring. That was the only goal until the U.S. tallied twice in the first 4:36 of the second period, pulling away in the first step of their quest of gold.

"I love that we're a threat from everywhere. I think, no matter where you look, there's all sorts of strengths on our power play, but I think the way we work together is truly unmatched," Carpenter said during the first intermission.

The physical tone of the game also allowed Edwards to use her height to her advantage.

"[The referees] really let us play," said forward Hayley Scamurra, who scored two goals in the game. "We weren't sure how much hitting they would allow. But it felt like full-on hitting, for sure. I personally embrace that part of the game, our whole team does. I thought we played really physical and a really good game."

Edwards has done all of this while being a trailblazer, giving young Black hockey players someone to look up to. It was difficult for Edwards not having many role models who looked like her in hockey as a child. She's only the second Black player on a U.S. Olympic hockey team (men's or women's), joining current Buffalo Sabres forward Jordan Greenway, who played in the 2018 PyeongChang Games when he was still playing college hockey at Boston University. That forced her to draw inspiration from athletes in other sports, such as fellow Ohio native LeBron James.

Now, she can be that figure to the next generation of hockey players and fans. Seeing her excel at the highest level can only do good things for growing the sport of hockey, as well as the United States' hopes of returning to the top of the podium for the first time since 2018.

And to some, she’s a trailblazer in more ways than one.

“Has there ever been a Cleveland Heights native on that team?” Jason asked on "New Heights." “She might be the first in both of those categories.”

“Siblings out of the Heights,” Travis replied, “tend to do good things.”