Mia Hammant, a standout player from the University of Washington women’s soccer team, has died at the age of 21 after battling kidney cancer.
Washington’s coach, Nicole Van Dyke, expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Mia was the heart of our program. She inspired everyone with her joy, courage, and kindness.” She went on to say that even in challenging times, Hammant maintained a spirit that uplifted her teammates and coaches. “Mia truly made us all better people, and her legacy will remain with us forever.”
Earlier this year, Hammant faced respiratory problems that led her to the emergency room. Testing indicated possibilities of an “autoimmune disease, infectious disease, or cancer,” according to a report by the university’s student newspaper, The Daily.
In April, Hammant learned that she had Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease.
She shared a photo from her hospital bed, documenting her journey with her teammates by her side. In her post, she reflected on her situation, saying it was hard to believe how quickly things had changed for her and her family.
“Everything happens for a reason. If you’d told me a month ago that I would be diagnosed with cancer, I would have laughed it off, but here we are,” Hammant wrote.
In her update, she explained, “On April 11th, I was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer, and the cause is simply bad luck. Despite the challenges, my friends and family have been my rock. While my everyday life feels paused, I’ve managed to find myself again through this experience.”
She also expressed gratitude towards her family and mentioned a GoFundMe set up to support both her and them, thanking everyone for their assistance.
The family’s GoFundMe has raised nearly $140,000.
Hammant made a special appearance at a Cal State football game on October 25th, where she participated in a tradition known as “sounding the siren.” The game was themed “Husky for treatment.”
“My goal in treatment is to find a way back to the life I had when I was 20,” she told The Daily in May. “I want to live independently, just like before, in a university dorm.”
