When the United States women’s hockey team lifted gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Laila Edwards was right in the middle of it. The 22-year-old defender from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, had just played a central role in one of the most celebrated moments in recent American hockey history. But speaking to San Jose Sharks broadcaster Brodie Brazil this week, Edwards revealed something most people never knew that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, whose net worth sits at an estimated $90 million, had quietly backed her dream long before she ever stepped onto Olympic ice.
What did Travis Kelce do to help Laila Edwards reach the Olympics?
It started with a Twitter DM from her father.Years before Edwards was a household name, she was just a teenager trying to fund a summer hockey tournament overseas. Her family didn’t have the money, so they ran a small fundraiser and her dad decided to shoot his shot. He messaged Travis Kelce directly, asking him to donate to his daughter’s fund.“I don’t think I have ever told this story, but years ago, I was trying to go overseas for like a little hockey tournament in the summer, and we just didn’t have the money, so we did a little fundraiser, and my dad direct messaged Travis on Twitter like ‘hey donate to my daughter’s fund… blah blah blah,’ and he donated $100 and I was like wow,” Edwards said.That could have been the end of it — a one-time gesture from a celebrity who would never cross her path again. But then, in November 2023, Edwards made history as the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s national hockey team. The Kelce brothers gave her a shoutout on their widely popular New Heights podcast.She sent them a message, fully expecting it to disappear into a celebrity inbox, never to be read. Travis replied.“Fast forward where I make the USA team, and they shout me out on their podcast, and I thought that was pretty cool. So I just messaged them knowing they would never see it, and Travis got back to me, and we had a good conversation. He was asking about my past blah blah. We were wishing each other luck, rooting for each other… all that good stuff,” Edwards recalled.By the time the 2026 Olympics came around, their connection had grown into something more concrete. Edwards’ family set up a GoFundMe to cover flights and accommodation in Milan so her parents, siblings, grandmother, and other relatives could watch her compete. Travis and his brother Jason donated.
How much did the Kelce brothers donate to Laila Edwards’ GoFundMe?
Edwards didn’t put a figure on it during the interview, but she made clear the contribution was substantial. “Then we started GoFundMe, and Travis donates, and that was just… he donated a very great portion that helped my family, everyone get over there without like the financial worries. And having my family there meant the world, they’re the reason I got there,” she said.According to the NHL, Travis and Jason Kelce donated $10,000 to the GoFundMe. The family had set a target of $50,000. They ultimately raised over $61,000 — enough to bring 14 family members to Milan, including Edwards’ 91-year-old grandmother, who shared a pre-game ritual with her from the stands throughout the tournament.Edwards spoke warmly about both brothers, describing them as people whose character runs deeper than their public profile. She said she came to realize that neither Travis nor Jason is driven by fame or money — they’re just genuinely good people.It’s a detail that adds a quieter dimension to Kelce’s public persona. The $100 donation to an unknown teenager’s fundraiser years ago wasn’t a calculated PR moment. Neither was the $10,000 to make sure that same teenager — now an Olympic gold medalist, got to celebrate with her family in Italy.
