NEED TO KNOW
- Mia Hamant, goalkeeper of the University of Washington soccer team, dies
- The 21-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer in April.
- Hamant attended a Huskies football game and sounded the siren at Husky Stadium just two weeks before his death.
Mia Hamant, goalkeeper for the University of Washington soccer team, dies. She was 21 years old.
The university’s athletics department shared the news Thursday, Nov. 6, in an official statement, noting that Hamant, who was from Corte Madera, California, died “following his courageous battle with stage 4 kidney cancer.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her parents, Candice and Kevin, her family, teammates, coaches, friends and everyone who was fortunate enough to know her,” the university continued in its statement.
“Mia’s legacy and spirit will always remain a part of the University of Washington. Her heart, selflessness and resilience inspired everyone. Mia’s courage, optimism and grace touched the lives of the entire Husky community. She will always serve as an inspiration to all whose lives she was able to touch,” the university added.
In a statement shared through the department, Washington Women’s Soccer head coach Nicole Van Dyke called Hamant “the heart of our program” and added that she was “someone who lifted everyone around her with her joy, courage and kindness.”
“Even in the most difficult times, she showed an unbreakable spirit that inspired her teammates and coaches every day. Mia made us all better people, and her impact will be felt in this program and in all of our lives forever,” Van Dyke added.
In the same statement, team doctor Ashwin Rao said he had the “privilege” of knowing Hamant during his four years as a student-athlete at the university.
“I was also lucky enough to be with her until the end of her journey. Throughout it all, Mia fought cancer as fiercely as she played. She wanted to be an inspiration to others also fighting cancer, as well as a source of awareness and destigmatization,” he said.
The University of Washington will share details about a memorial or celebration of Hamant’s life at a later date, according to the statement.
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Hamant announced that he had been diagnosed with “SMARCB1-deficient non-sickle renal medullary carcinoma (RMC)” on April 11 in an Instagram post from May.
“Everything happens for a reason,” she captioned the post, alongside a photo of herself in a hospital bed surrounded by friends.
“If you had told me a month ago that I would be diagnosed and fighting cancer, I would have laughed in your face, but here we are,” he added.
The athlete thanked all the support she received from friends and family after the sudden diagnosis and noted that “normal life has been put on pause.”
RMC is “a rare, aggressive cancer that forms deep in the kidney,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. There is currently no cure, although treatments such as chemotherapy can help patients live longer.
Hamant attended a Huskies football game and sounded the siren at Husky Stadium two weeks before his death, according to ESPN.
“Mia Hamant on our football team is going through very, very tough battles with cancer. We’re just trying to be there to support her,” wide receiver Denzel Boston said after the game, according to the outlet.