Big Ten Renames Womenโs Soccer Goalkeeper Of The Year Award In Honor Of Mia Hamant
October 08, 2026 | Women's Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. โ The Big Ten Conference announced on Thursday that it will honor the life and legacy of late Washington goalkeeper Mia Hamant with the renaming of the conference's postseason shot-stopping laurel as the Mia Hamant Women's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
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The award's renaming comes just under a year since Hamant's passing on November 6, 2025 after a courageous and inspiring fight against stage 4 kidney cancer.
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"Already a leader on the field and a national standout in the goal, Mia Hamant not only inspired the University of Washington, its athletic department and its soccer program, she inspired all of the Big Ten and so many more with the spirit displayed in facing one of the toughest challenges one can face," said Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti. "The Big Ten will keep her memory and story alive with this coveted honor bearing her name."
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Hamant's months-long battle served as the wind beneath the wings of one of the most successful seasons in the history of the Washington women's soccer program as the Huskies captured the Big Ten's Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2025. UW became the first team to clinch the Big Ten double since 2016, securing Washington's first conference championship in a quarter century.
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"On behalf of the University of Washington, our athletics program and our women's soccer program, we'd like to say thank you to the Big Ten Conference and Commissioner Petitti on naming the Goalkeeper of the Year Award after Mia Hamant," said UW athletics director Pat Chun.
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"We all know Mia's courageous story and what she symbolizes on our campus, within our athletics program and in the sport of soccer. We're so grateful that the Big Ten would rename this award after such a worthy champion."
ย
While unable to perform between the posts, Hamant showed up for her teammates all season long, standing on the sideline for every single home match of the 2025 regular season and doing so as she did everything, with an everlasting smile and relentlessly positive outlook.
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Three days after her passing, Hamant's unwavering resilience could be felt as Washington took the field at Energizer Park in St. Louis for the final of the 2025 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament. In the best way they knew how, the Huskies honored their teammate and friend by winning the match on penalty kicks, defeating Michigan State for their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title.
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"Our program continues to be amazed by the support shown for Mia Hamant and we're so appreciative of the Big Ten Conference and Commissioner Petitti," said head women's soccer coach Nicole Van Dyke. "For years and decades, people will continue to learn her story as she inspires communities all across the country."
ย
A heralded goalkeeping prospect out of high school, Hamant showed her resolve early on as a Husky. Battling back from an ACL injury to begin her collegiate career, the Northern California native put together an all-time season in goal in 2024, leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally with a save percentage of .882. UW's record holder for career goals against average (0.64), Hamant's mark of 0.66 in 2024 was the third-lowest in the history of the program.
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A showman in every sense of the word, Hamant took her game to an even greater level on the biggest stages. Her marquee performance came during the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals against Iowa.
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Hamant racked up a career-best 12 saves during regulation and extra time against the Hawkeyes, tying for the seventh-most single-match stops in Husky history, a mark shared with UW and USWNT legend Hope Solo. Placed on an island when the match entered penalty kicks, Hamant made three saves during the shootout to lead Washington to the semifinal round, earning a place on the 2024 Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
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Two weeks later, Hamant again helped the Huskies advance on spot kicks in the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament over Utah State.
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Excelling just as much off the pitch as she did on it, Hamant was a three-time academic all-conference student, a 2024 CSC Academic All-District honoree and a 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
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For news, scores, highlights and more,ย download the Go Huskies appย on your mobile device. Follow @UW_WSoccer on Instagram, X, Threads, Facebook and TikTok and subscribe toย UW Athletics on YouTubeย for the latest on the Dawgs.
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The award's renaming comes just under a year since Hamant's passing on November 6, 2025 after a courageous and inspiring fight against stage 4 kidney cancer.
ย
"Already a leader on the field and a national standout in the goal, Mia Hamant not only inspired the University of Washington, its athletic department and its soccer program, she inspired all of the Big Ten and so many more with the spirit displayed in facing one of the toughest challenges one can face," said Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti. "The Big Ten will keep her memory and story alive with this coveted honor bearing her name."
ย
Hamant's months-long battle served as the wind beneath the wings of one of the most successful seasons in the history of the Washington women's soccer program as the Huskies captured the Big Ten's Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2025. UW became the first team to clinch the Big Ten double since 2016, securing Washington's first conference championship in a quarter century.
ย
"On behalf of the University of Washington, our athletics program and our women's soccer program, we'd like to say thank you to the Big Ten Conference and Commissioner Petitti on naming the Goalkeeper of the Year Award after Mia Hamant," said UW athletics director Pat Chun.
ย
"We all know Mia's courageous story and what she symbolizes on our campus, within our athletics program and in the sport of soccer. We're so grateful that the Big Ten would rename this award after such a worthy champion."
ย
While unable to perform between the posts, Hamant showed up for her teammates all season long, standing on the sideline for every single home match of the 2025 regular season and doing so as she did everything, with an everlasting smile and relentlessly positive outlook.
ย
Three days after her passing, Hamant's unwavering resilience could be felt as Washington took the field at Energizer Park in St. Louis for the final of the 2025 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament. In the best way they knew how, the Huskies honored their teammate and friend by winning the match on penalty kicks, defeating Michigan State for their first-ever Big Ten Tournament title.
ย
"Our program continues to be amazed by the support shown for Mia Hamant and we're so appreciative of the Big Ten Conference and Commissioner Petitti," said head women's soccer coach Nicole Van Dyke. "For years and decades, people will continue to learn her story as she inspires communities all across the country."
ย
A heralded goalkeeping prospect out of high school, Hamant showed her resolve early on as a Husky. Battling back from an ACL injury to begin her collegiate career, the Northern California native put together an all-time season in goal in 2024, leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally with a save percentage of .882. UW's record holder for career goals against average (0.64), Hamant's mark of 0.66 in 2024 was the third-lowest in the history of the program.
ย
A showman in every sense of the word, Hamant took her game to an even greater level on the biggest stages. Her marquee performance came during the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals against Iowa.
ย
Hamant racked up a career-best 12 saves during regulation and extra time against the Hawkeyes, tying for the seventh-most single-match stops in Husky history, a mark shared with UW and USWNT legend Hope Solo. Placed on an island when the match entered penalty kicks, Hamant made three saves during the shootout to lead Washington to the semifinal round, earning a place on the 2024 Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
ย
Two weeks later, Hamant again helped the Huskies advance on spot kicks in the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament over Utah State.
ย
Excelling just as much off the pitch as she did on it, Hamant was a three-time academic all-conference student, a 2024 CSC Academic All-District honoree and a 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
ย
For news, scores, highlights and more,ย download the Go Huskies appย on your mobile device. Follow @UW_WSoccer on Instagram, X, Threads, Facebook and TikTok and subscribe toย UW Athletics on YouTubeย for the latest on the Dawgs.
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