SEATTLE, Wash. — The University of Washington is mourning the loss of Mia Hamant, a senior goalkeeper for the Huskies women’s soccer team, who died Thursday night after a courageous fight with a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer. She was 21.
Hamant was diagnosed in April with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney cancer, a disease so rare that fewer than 200 cases have been documented worldwide since it was first identified in 1995. Despite the devastating diagnosis, Hamant continued to support her teammates from the sidelines, showing up to practices and games while undergoing chemotherapy.
“Mia was the heart of our program,” said head coach Nicole Van Dyke. “Even in the most difficult moments, she showed an unshakable spirit that inspired her teammates and coaches every single day. Mia made us all better people, and her impact will be felt in this program and in all of our lives forever.”
Hamant, a native of Corte Madera, California, was remembered for her infectious positivity and fierce determination—embodying the same ethos expressed by late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, who famously said, “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
Following her passing, the University of Washington athletic community rallied together in grief and remembrance. “Mia embodied everything we hope for in a Husky student-athlete — perseverance, grace, and an unwavering commitment to her teammates and community,” said Athletic Director Pat Chun in a statement. “Her remarkable courage through adversity and the legacy she leaves behind will forever inspire the UW family.”
In a poignant tribute, the lights at Husky Stadium were turned orange — the color symbolizing kidney cancer awareness — as students, faculty, and fans shared condolences online using the hashtag #MiaStrong.
Several Husky teams honored her memory Thursday night. The men’s basketball team opened their post-game press conference with words of condolence, and football players wore ribbons in her honor, continuing UW’s longstanding advocacy for cancer awareness.
The timing of Hamant’s passing was bittersweet: just hours before, her teammates had secured a 2-1 victory over No. 15 Wisconsin, advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Championship. The university announced that details of a memorial service or celebration of life will be shared soon.
In the end, Mia Hamant’s story transcends sports. It’s about resilience, love, and a young woman who showed what it truly means to fight with grace — and to live with purpose until the very end.
