“Made us all better people”
US goalkeeper dies of cancer at just 21 years old
11/10/2025 – 8:34 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
A tragic death shocks US soccer. A young goalkeeper has lost her battle with cancer. She was only 21 years old.
The American young goalkeeper Mia Hamant is dead. The 21-year-old played until recently for the University of Washington (UW), which is based in the city of Seattle in the northwest of the USA. The university said in an official statement that they were “deeply shocked” by the death of the young athlete
Hamant had been battling a rare form of kidney cancer for months. She only received the diagnosis in April of this year. At the time, she explained on her own Instagram account how she motivated her family and friends to overcome all the challenges. “Although my normal life has been temporarily put on hold, I’m feeling better now and feeling like myself again,” the student wrote alongside a photo of herself in her hospital bed with her friends.
In 2024, Hamant was still one of the best goalkeepers in the Big Ten Conference, one of the oldest university sports leagues in the country. This year, her senior year, the California native no longer played for her team due to her diagnosis.
“Mia was the heart of our program – someone who inspired everyone around her with her joy, courage and kindness,” UW coach Nicole Van Dyke said in the university release. “Even in the most difficult moments, she demonstrated an unwavering spirit that inspired her teammates and coaches every day. Mia made us all better people, and her influence will forever be felt in this program and in our lives.”
Team doctor Ashwin Rao explained: “I had the privilege of getting to know Mia during her four years as a student and athlete, as well as during her diagnosis and treatment. I was also fortunate enough to be able to accompany her to the end of her journey.” Hamant fought cancer just as hard as she played football. “She wanted to be an inspiration to others who are also battling cancer and help raise awareness and destigmatize the disease,” Rao said.
Hamant documented her fight against cancer on another Instagram profile called “miakickscancer” (German: Mia defeats cancer). You can also see her attending a football game at her university at the end of October. Hamant sits in a wheelchair and wears a purple wig after chemotherapy. She is allowed to ring the Husky Stadium siren to the applause of the spectators. Two weeks later she succumbed to cancer.