UW women’s soccer player Mia Hamant succumbs months after cancer diagnosis
1 of 2 | University of Washington soccer player Mia Hamant lost her battle with kidney cancer, the school announced Thursday. (Caean Couto / University of Washington)
By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter
Mia Hamant, the Washington women’s soccer player who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer, died Thursday after a monthslong ordeal with the disease, the UW athletics department announced. She was 21 years old.
“Mia was the heart of our program — someone who lifted up everyone around her with her joy, courage, and kindness,” Nicole Van Dyke, the UW women’s soccer coach, said in a news release. “Even in the most difficult moments, she showed an unshakable spirit that inspired her teammates and coaches every single day.”
Hamant emerged as one of the Big Ten’s best goalkeepers during her junior season in 2024, guiding the Huskies to the semifinals of the conference tournament by making three saves during UW’s penalty shootout against Iowa during the quarterfinals.
But in April, Hamant was diagnosed with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney cancer, an ultrarare form of the disease. She immediately began chemotherapy treatment, and stepped away from the Huskies, though she attended every home game during what was supposed to be her senior season.
“The University of Washington grieves the heartbreaking loss of Mia Hamant,” athletic director Pat Chun said in a news release, “whose strength, kindness and spirit touched everyone around her. Mia embodied everything we hope for in a Husky student-athlete — perseverance, grace, and an unwavering commitment to her teammates and community. Her remarkable courage through adversity and the legacy she leaves behind will forever inspire the UW family.”
Hamant was an inspiration for her teammates, who went on to win the 2025 Big Ten regular-season championship — Washington’s first conference championship since 2000 — while sporting orange ribbons in their hair and on their jerseys for Hamant. She was selected as Washington’s 2025 sportsmanship award honoree by the Big Ten during its end-of-season awards Tuesday.
Top-seeded Washington defeated Wisconsin 2-1 Thursday afternoon during the semifinals of the conference tournament at Energizer Park in St. Louis to earn a place in the Big Ten championship game. UW will face Michigan State at 11 a.m. Sunday.
“Mia made us all better people,” Van Dyke said. “Her impact will be felt in this program and in all of our lives forever.”
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes .com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.