For Vahayliah Seumanutafa, coming to BYU means more than the next step in her basketball career.
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Seumanutafa is the first person in her family to go to college. After signing with BYU in November 2025, the freshman guard is pursuing an opportunity that she has dreamed about since childhood.
“College has always been something that I’ve wanted to do since I was young,” Seumanutafa said. “Even though I was the first to leave home and my family, I was set on my decision. When I put it into perspective, it’s only five years, and I will enjoy the most out of everything.”
Her parents and family encouraged her to pursue further education. Seumanutafa is the oldest of seven and is using this opportunity as a chance to empower her siblings.
“They’re watching me and looking up to me,” Seumanutafa said. “I feel a responsibility to be a good example, set the bar for them and help them see what they can achieve. I want to show them that there’s no limit to what they can do.”
Seumanutafa grew up playing basketball and had her sights set on competing at the next level.
“College basketball is something we see back home on TV, and it’s really exciting to know that I’ll be a part of it,” she said. “It’s something you will never get to experience ever again.”
As she approached recruiting season, Seumanutafa grappled with injuries in both knees, limiting her ability to play.
“I was in a difficult situation,” she said. “There was one point where I didn’t think I would be able to go to college because of my knees. When I did my second knee, contact went down a bit.”
Despite the injuries, she played for several competitive teams throughout high school, such as the U19 Australian National Team, Queensland’s U16 and U18 state teams and the NBL1 Logan Thunder, the Australian women’s basketball equivalent of the NBA’s G League.
Seumanutafa came to the United States with AUSA, a pathway program that connects college prospects with universities in the U.S. While on a tour around the country, she caught BYU’s attention.
After coming to Provo for a recruiting visit, she found that BYU checked several of her boxes.
“Provo’s environment is similar to what it’s like back home,” Seumanutafa said. “It’s not too busy like city life, but it’s also not out in the country.”
The freshman also noted Provo’s environment of belonging, including the presence of other Polynesians and the high percentage of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I’m a member of the Church, so it gave me and my family comfort knowing that I will be surrounded by people who share the same values and standards that my parents raised me on,” Seumanutafa said. “Back home, they wanted that to continue when I left the nest.”
She already feels at home in Provo, having found another family of friends, teammates and coaches.
“I barely feel homesick because I’ve created a family here, and everyone looks after you so well,” Seumanutafa said.
Her first cousin, Prasayus Notoa, also signed with the team earlier this year. Having played together throughout their youth and now rooming together, Seumanutafa appreciated the opportunity to make the transition to college side-by-side.
“It’s definitely a blessing, especially being far from home,” Seumanutafa said. “Our lives literally revolved around our family, and we had family everywhere we went, so moving to this country was hard. Having each other here has made it so much easier just having a familiar face next to you.”
Thousands of miles from Brisbane, Seumanutafa is excited to pursue her dream of playing college basketball. By living out that dream and setting an example for her family back home, she is excited to see what she can achieve.
“Sacrificing four or five years away from home to put yourself and your family in a better situation in the future and to bring you closer to your goals is worth it,” Seumanutafa said.