Black Rosie Media to Spotlight Black Athletes at 2026 Winter Olympics

Multimedia platform founded by Erica L. Ayala will chronicle stories of diversity and inclusion at the Games

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Erica L. Ayala and Jordan Dabney of Black Rosie Media, a multimedia platform that empowers Black women and women of color in sports media, will be covering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. They will focus on chronicling the stories of Black athletes competing in the Games, including hockey players like Laila Edwards, Sarah Nurse, and Sophie Jaques.

Why it matters

Black Rosie Media's coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics provides an important platform to highlight the achievements and experiences of Black athletes, who have historically been underrepresented in winter sports media. Their reporting will help amplify diverse voices and perspectives that are often overlooked.

The details

Ayala and Dabney will be providing dispatches for Black Rosie Media, covering women's and men's hockey as well as other sports featuring athletes of color. Ayala is also covering the Olympics for Olympics.com. Their goal is to give a voice to Black women and people of color in sports media, building on their year-round coverage of women's hockey and basketball.

  • Ayala and Dabney will be covering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
  • Laila Edwards made history as the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Olympic hockey team on February 9, 2026.

The players

Erica L. Ayala

A pioneering broadcaster and journalist who is the founder of Black Rosie Media, a multimedia platform that empowers Black women and women of color in sports media.

Jordan Dabney

A 25-year-old designer from Ashburn, Virginia who is assisting Ayala with Black Rosie Media's coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Laila Edwards

A defenseman for the University of Wisconsin who made history as the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Sarah Nurse

A Canadian hockey player who is playing in her third Winter Olympics, having led Canada to the gold medal at the 2022 PyeongChang Olympics.

Sophie Jaques

A defenseman for Minnesota in the Professional Women's Hockey League who made her Olympic debut for Canada and became the first Black player to win the Patty Kazmaier award in 2023 as the top player in NCAA Division I women's hockey.

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What they’re saying

“The idea is to give voice to Black women and melanated people, regardless of how they identify. Throughout the year, we cover primarily hockey and basketball from the women's sports perspective. When it comes to an Olympics, we first start with women's sports and provide women's sports fans with the field of athletes they may be familiar with because of their college ties or their pro ties.”

— Erica L. Ayala, Founder, Black Rosie Media

“It's interesting how everything that I've done so far just really focuses on diversity and hockey and where it's taken me so far. I think it's really exciting that there are different people, different perspectives, different cultures, different journeys that people have to get to the Olympics. It's so exciting, even though I can't go as a fan, so I'm getting all my fandom out now.”

— Jordan Dabney, Designer, Black Rosie Media

What’s next

Ayala and Dabney will continue their comprehensive coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, providing in-depth reporting and storytelling around the diverse athletes competing at the Games.

The takeaway

Black Rosie Media's coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics represents an important step forward in amplifying the voices and experiences of Black women and people of color in sports media. Their reporting will help shine a light on the achievements and challenges faced by underrepresented athletes, fostering greater diversity and inclusion in winter sports.