Daviana Vaka has signed her first professional football contract with Fort Lauderdale United FC in the USL Super League, joining her twin sister Laveni in the professional ranks.
The 23-year-old defender’s arrival comes at an important time for Fort Lauderdale, as the team contends with a depleted backline due to injuries, including Laveni’s season-ending knee injury.
Born and raised in Sandy, Utah, the Vaka twins developed their football skills together, both attending Juan Diego Catholic High School before playing at Brigham Young University (BYU).
At BYU, Daviana played from 2019 to 2022, showcasing her abilities as a forward. In 2023, she transferred to the University of Florida, where she transitioned to a defensive role, earning All-SEC First Team honours and being named the Gators’ Defensive Player of the Year.
Internationally, Daviana has represented Tonga alongside her sister, including appearances at the 2018 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in New Caledonia and the 2022 OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji. Their contributions have been instrumental in elevating the performance and profile of Tonga’s national women’s team, Mataliki.
With both sisters now playing professionally, Tonga becomes one of the few Pacific Island nations with multiple women footballers competing overseas.
This milestone is expected to inspire young female athletes in the Kingdom and support the Tonga Football Association’s goal of creating sustainable international pathways for its players.
