Fort Lauderdale United FC signed Laveni Vaka, Tonga’s first female professional soccer player, to become their first defender on its 2024 opening roster for the upcoming USL Super League season.
Born and raised in Sandy, Utah, Vaka stayed close to her roots by playing on Brigham Young University’s team alongside her twin sister, Daviana, who played with her for three years.
Vaka’s relentless pursuit of the ball and her fierce playing style are matched only by her intelligence of the game and her composure under pressure. Vaka showcased her defensive skills by playing the most minutes of any BYU player in her 2022 season with 1,832 minutes. Her stellar performance awarded her the 2022 WCC Defender of the Year and 2022 NCAA First Team All-Region while also putting her on the 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Vaka continued being an integral part of her team and an unstoppable force on defense, playing and starting in all 26 games of her senior season. She set an astonishing all-time high record on her team by playing 2,272 minutes on the field.
From making her international debut in 2018 for the Tonga National Women’s team in the OFC Women’s Nations Cup to being selected by Bay FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft, Vaka has woven her name into history, inspiring young Tongan girls to follow their dreams.
Vaka will continue to pave a path for young female athletes and make history once again by joining the first professional women’s team in South Florida, where she will be a force of nature on Fort Lauderdale United FC’s defense.
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