Utah Valley University’s Naia Tanuvasa has been named to the athlete pool for the American Samoa National Women’s Basketball Team as they pursue a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games, according to a May 19 announcement.
Tanuvasa will enter her junior year in the upcoming 2026-2027 season. She joined the Wolverines for the 2025-2026 season, appearing in 28 games and setting Utah Valley’s single-game steals record with nine against La Sierra. In that game, she also recorded seven assists and two blocks.
Before joining Utah Valley, Tanuvasa played at Lone Peak High School in Highland, where she led her team to three Utah 6A State Championships and four region titles. As a senior, she was named first-team All-State after averaging 14.5 points and six rebounds per game. Off the basketball court, she excelled in soccer and was recognized as Provo’s Daily Herald Soccer Player of the Year in 2024.
American Samoa last won gold at the Pacific Games in 2019 after earning silver medals in both 2007 and 2015. Should they qualify for the Olympics, it would mark their first-ever entry of a women’s basketball team into an international tournament.
The selection highlights both Tanuvasa’s athletic achievements and American Samoa’s efforts to reach new milestones on an international stage.
