Ahead of its inaugural season in the USL W League, West Seattle Rhodies FC have dedicated and renamed its ‘Mia Hamant City Light’ kit in support of its goalkeeper who is battling a rare form of kidney cancer. 

Mia Hamant, a junior at the University of Washington, was diagnosed in April with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney cancer – an aggressive form of kidney cancer caused by the loss of a specific gene that normally helps regulate critical cell functions. Without this gene, the cancer grows rapidly and can spread throughout the body. Her condition is so rare that many medical facilities may only see a single case per year. 

The Rhodies announced in January that Hamant would be joining the team this summer after her standout season at Washington. In 2024, Hamant appeared in 17 matches with 15 starts for the Huskies, allowing only 10 goals. Her PK-shootout heroics in the Big 10 and NCAA Tournaments led UW to incredible runs in both. She led the conference and was ranked third in the nation with a 0.882 save percentage. 

Hamant helped design the Rhodies’ goalkeeper kit, formerly the ‘City Light’ kit, inspired by the landmark neon sign found at the junction of Interstate 5 and the West Seattle Bridge. The club renamed the kit in her honor, and $10 from each jersey sale will go directly to benefit Hamant’s gofundme.com campaign. 

“It’s truly amazing all the support this team has given, despite me not even stepping on the field for them yet,” Hamant said. “It makes me feel so supported and like a part of a family - for a first-year organization, it has been so complete, and the professionalism speaks volumes.” 

The Rhodies kick off their W League season with their home opener this Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m. PT/ 5 p.m. ET against Salmon Bay FC. The team’s June 25 match against FC Olympia will be its “Kick Cancer” themed night. Buy tickets to Rhodies matches here or stream on SportsEngine Play all season long.