NIL deal helps Mt. Lebanon native pursue her platform
Mia Bhuta
Mia Bhuta
Mt. Lebanon native Mia Bhuta, a member of the U.S. team at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India, became the first player of Indian descent to represent the United States at a World Cup.
Mia Bhuta of Mt. Lebanon not only represented the United States as co-captain of the U.S. Under-17 women’s national soccer team, she is now representing diversity in soccer
Adidas has signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsement agreement with the 17-year-old standout. According to the company, Bhuta is not only an exceptional player with the mentality of a world-class athlete, she brings the perspective of a leader with a global mindset. She is furthering opportunities for her peers worldwide while inspiring the players of tomorrow.
Bhuta encapsulates the region. The 2022 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate captures how Pittsburgh is a city of confluence, where industry and education attract people who enrich the city.
Her mother Joy is a Pittsburgh native, a teacher in the Carlynton School District and a former soccer player. She met her husband, Vyom, at nearby Mercyhurst University. Vyom grew up in Rajkot, India. An avid and skilled tennis player, he moved to the United States when he was 16 to pursue better educational and athletic opportunities. After the couple wed, they settled in Mt. Lebanon.
Mia started playing soccer at a local facility called Li’l Kickers before embarking on a career on the club circuit. The midfielder led the Internationals SC to a pair of conference championships. She was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2022. She was a two-time all-conference selection and participated in the ECNL National Selection Game in 2021. In 2022, she captained the U17 Women’s National Team, where she was the highest capped player (11 caps, 3 goals, 3 assists). A quarter finalist in FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, she also became the first Indian-American to represent the USA at the World Cup at any level.
Mia earned a scholarship to Stanford, where she is a member of the freshman class playing on the women’s soccer team. In addition to making an impact on the Cardinal program, she has her sights set on making the U.S. National Team roster and competing for the United States women’s national under-20 soccer team.
“The family values that my dad and my mom passed on to me were to strive for excellence, develop self-belief through hard work, lead by serving others, and dream big,” Mia said.
Mia’s vision does not stop there. She is using her platform to inspire and empower other young women in soccer –especially increasing diversity and representation in sports.
“Girls need to see someone like them succeeding to feel like they can achieve their goals too. I hope to connect with these girls on a personal level and help them to believe in themselves and dream big.”