PWHL San Jose has locked up who it hopes will be the team's future star.
The expansion outfit signed defender Laila Edwards to a three-year contract through the 2028-29 season, the team announced Monday.
Edwards was the fourth-overall pick of the 2026 PWHL Draft.
"We are thrilled to officially welcome Laila to San Jose and are excited about what her commitment means for the future we are building here," said Troy Ryan, PWHL San Jose general manager and head coach in a statement released by the team. "Laila is an exceptional talent who embodies the character we value in our organization. She has tremendous potential, and we are committed to supporting her growth and development as she establishes herself as a professional."
The 22-year-old, right-shot D won three national championships in four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, tallying 199 points and 81 goals in 151 college games. The Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native was a member of the 2026 Olympic gold-medal-winning women's hockey team in Milan.
"I couldn’t have landed in a better place and organization than San Jose," Edwards said in a statement. "I’m so excited to get to work and get going with this group."
PWHL San Jose is set to play its first-ever pre-season game on Nov. 29 against the Seattle Torrent.