Laveni Vaka becomes first woman pro-footballer of Tongan descent

Football defender Laveni Vaka has become the first Tongan female professional soccer player.

Vaka has been drafted to the National Women's Soccer League in the United States, playing for the Bay Football Club in California.

“I played soccer in San Mateo, that’s where it started for me and to go back home means so much to me, and I’m just so grateful for Bay FC for taking a chance on me.”

Vaka was the 13th pick in the fourth round, being the second to last announcement for the squad. Vaka has played representative football alongside her twin Daviana, who gave her some sisterly ribbing before the event.

“She likes to one-up me sometimes, she was just like ‘You don’t have to be worried, but obviously being this late…’ she had me worried.”

Vaka was a member of the Tonga Women’s National Team in 2022 and has previously represented Tonga in the 2018 OFC Women’s Nations Cup.

In 2020, Ata ‘AJ’ Inia became the first Tongan pro-footballer, and currently plays as a forward for Thai League 2 club Phrae United.