UW Soccer Goalkeeper Mia Hamant Dies at 21

The University of Washington women's soccer community is grieving the death of goalkeeper Mia Hamant, a 21-year-old standout from Corte Madera, California, who succumbed to Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney cancer on November 6, 2024, after a seven-month battle with the rare and aggressive disease.

Hamant was diagnosed in April 2024 following persistent respiratory issues that prompted an emergency room visit and subsequent testing. The condition, with only about 14 documented cases worldwide, forced her to step away from the team ahead of her senior season, though she remained a visible presence at games, supporting her teammates from the sidelines. In a May Instagram post, she shared a photo from her hospital room surrounded by friends and reflected on the diagnosis: "Everything happens for a reason. If you told me a month ago I would be diagnosed with and fighting cancer I would have laughed in your face, but here we are." She described the cancer as resulting from "nothing more than bad luck" and credited her family and friends for helping her navigate treatment challenges. Hamant launched an Instagram account, @miakickscancer, to document her journey with raw honesty and...