Mia Thalein Justus

Mia Justus is the cousin of former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard. She came up through the American youth ranks, representing the United States from under-16 level through to under-23, and was part of the U-20 side that won the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship before playing at that year's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. In January 2025 she was called into the senior USWNT Futures Camp under Emma Hayes.

Her college career took her to two different programmes. At Florida State she started out as backup to Cristina Roque, but still picked up a national championship medal and a place on the ACC All-Freshman Team. She then transferred to Texas, where she became first choice and produced her best form: an Most Outstanding Defensive Player award at the 2023 Big 12 Tournament, MVP honours at the 2024 SEC Tournament, and a place on the All-SEC Third Team. In 2024 she also set a Texas single-season record of 12 clean sheets.

Justus turned professional with the Utah Royals in December 2024, signing directly under the new collective bargaining agreement rather than going through the NWSL Draft. Her debut came the following August, and by September she had her first professional clean sheet, against Bay FC. That month she was also named NWSL Save of the Week.