Hulita Veve

The Queen of Tonga and a Purple Family favourite, Veve made a highly successful return to the Firebirds fully contracted list in 2024 after multiple seasons as a training partner, appearing in all 14 games and ending the season as the winner of the Players' Player and Members' Player of the Year awards.

Playing under her maiden name Hulita Haukinima, the athletic midcourter was part of the Firebirds' ANZ Premiership win in 2016 before taking a break from the game for the birth of her first of two children in 2017.

A natural leader who displays calmness on court, Veve has come through the Queensland pathways, representing her state at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 levels as well as playing for the Queensland Fusion and Sapphires at national level.

Veve is also a proud Tongan international, leading her country at their maiden World Cup appearance in South Africa in 2023.