Sandy, UT
HOMETOWN
BYU
COLLEGE
2024/25 Season:
Laveni Vaka is entering her second season with Fort Lauderdale United FC.
Vaka was a dominant presence on the back line during the club’s inaugural season, earning All-League Second Team honors after starting all 18 matches she played before a season-ending knee injury in March. The BYU product anchored the defense with elite consistency, completing 977 passes and tallying 65 clearances, 45 duels won, 15 tackles won, 14 blocks and 5 interceptions. Despite appearing in 10 fewer matches than the rest, the 23-year-old defender still ranked near the top of the team in clearances (3rd), blocks (3rd), and passes completed (4th), a clear sign of her influence and importance to the FTL UTD squad. Vaka also earned a spot on the inaugural Super League Team of the Month in August.
- All-League Second Team
- 1x TOTM (August)
Previous Experience:
Vaka made her first international debut in 2018 for the Tonga National Women’s team.
Vaka had a decorated career with Brigham Young University as a defender, awarding 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.
In 2024, Vaka was selected by Bay FC in the NWSL Draft, creating history by becoming Tonga’s first female professional soccer player.
More About Laveni:
- Favorite Foods
- Corn Dogs / Hot Dogs
- Greek Yogurt
- Chocolate
- Favorite TV Shows
- Bridgerton
- Twilight
- Favorite Movies
- Crazy Rich Asians
- Maleficent
- She’s The Man
- Harry Potter (Series)
- Fun Facts
- She has a twin sister!
- Laveni can play the organ, piano & flute!
- She comes from a family of 8.
