Kristian Ferrell
Last-Tear Poa is an LSU women's basketball guard and the coach Kim Mulkey's most experienced point guard. Poa is from Melbourne, Australia, and has Polynesian heritage. She started playing basketball when she was 10 and later played for Northwest Florida State College, leading her team to an NJCAA National Championship during her freshman season. She then transferred to LSU, where she has become an integral part of the team, helping them win their first Women's Basketball National Title in 2023. Poa suffered a concussion after a hard hit during a game against Ole Miss in March 2024 and had to be stretchered off the floor. She has also faced challenges with U.S. immigration, filing a lawsuit against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services due to the denial of her P-1A Athlete application.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Last-Tear Poa |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Position | Guard |
| Height | 5-foot-11 |
| Education | Northwest Florida State College |
| Current Team | LSU Tigers |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Family Origin | Cook Islands, French Polynesia |
| Age | Junior |
| Visa Status | F-1 Student Visa |
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What You'll Learn
Last-Tear Poa's lawsuit against US Immigration Services
LSU women's basketball senior point guard Last-Tear Poa filed a lawsuit against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in October 2024. Poa, originally from Melbourne, Australia, was living in the United States on an F-1 student visa while playing basketball for LSU.
Poa's lawsuit against the US Immigration Services stems from the denial of her P-1A Athlete application. The Immigration Services cited that her future events were not internationally recognized. As a prominent athlete with over 200,000 social media followers, Poa sought a visa that would allow her to pursue Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. The implementation of NIL on the collegiate athletics scene created challenges for international student-athletes like Poa, who sought to monetise their fame and athletic achievements through personal branding and endorsements.
The denial of her P-1A visa application restricted Poa's ability to capitalise on her athletic success and hampered her potential earnings. Poa's lawsuit against US Immigration Services highlights the complexities faced by international student-athletes in the United States who seek to benefit from NIL opportunities. The outcome of her lawsuit could have implications for how international student-athletes navigate the intersection of immigration laws and NIL earning potential.
Poa's athletic achievements are notable, having been considered the top JUCO transfer in the country after playing at Northwest Florida State College. She led her team to an NJCAA National Championship during her freshman season, earning NJCAA Tournament MVP honours. Her stellar play continued, averaging 14.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game following the 2021-22 season, which culminated in her being named the FCSAA Player of the Year.
The lawsuit brought by Last-Tear Poa against US Immigration Services underscores the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics and the need for immigration policies that consider the unique circumstances of international student-athletes seeking to maximise their opportunities in the United States.
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Poa's Polynesian heritage
LSU guard Last-Tear Poa is a proud French Polynesian. Her family is originally from the Cook Islands, and she was born in Melbourne, Australia. Poa's mother, Natasha Kairangi Poa, played basketball in the Australian Women's National Basketball League, and her father, Philip Poa, was a kickboxer and carpenter. Poa's grandfather, Richard, is a truck driver.
Poa's family is deeply rooted in sports, and her parents have always supported her basketball career. She started playing basketball at a young age and later joined the Victorian state U15 team. Poa's talent and creative flair impressed her coach, Katrina Hibbert, a former LSU women's basketball player. She then played at Northwest Florida State junior college, where she was named MVP of the NJCAA tournament championship game.
Poa's unique name is connected to her Polynesian heritage. Her great-grandmother, whom she never met, predicted the birth of a child and shared this premonition with Poa's mother on her deathbed, shedding one final tear. Poa's family honoured her great-grandmother by naming her Last-Tear, and she also has a beauty mark beneath her left eye, which she believes is connected to her great-grandmother's final tear.
Poa embraces her Polynesian culture and often talks about it with her American teammates. She cooks Polynesian cuisine and celebrates her heritage through dance and traditional costumes. Poa's family remains connected to their Polynesian roots, even though they no longer live in Polynesia. She carries her cultural beliefs and traditions with her as she forges her successful basketball career at LSU and beyond.
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Poa's basketball career before LSU
Last-Tear Poa, a 5-foot-11 guard from Melbourne, Australia, joined LSU in 2022 after a stint at Northwest Florida State College, where she was considered the top JUCO transfer in the country. During her freshman season at Northwest Florida State College, Poa led the Raiders to an NJCAA National Championship, earning NJCAA Tournament MVP. She averaged 23.0 points and 40 minutes played while shooting 44.9% from the field and 43.5% from beyond the three-point line during the championship season.
In the 2021-22 season, Poa was named the FCSAA Player of the Year after averaging 14.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Her performance at Northwest Florida State College established her as one of the nation's top junior college (JUCO) prospects.
Poa made an immediate impact in her first year at LSU, playing in all 36 games during her sophomore season (2022-23) and starting in two of them. She led the team in free-throw shooting, making 87.9% of her attempts. Poa also contributed to LSU's first women's basketball national championship title in program history during the 2022-23 season.
In her junior season (2023-24), Poa played primarily off the bench but started in 10 games. She averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 assists per game, with a season-high of 14 points in a win over Auburn in the SEC Tournament. Poa's defensive skills were also notable, as she drew 31 charges throughout the season and had a career-high 6 steals in a victory over Northwestern State.
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Poa's concussion during the SEC Tournament
LSU guard Last-Tear Poa suffered a concussion during the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament in 2024. In the fourth quarter of the Tigers' game against Ole Miss, Poa took a hard fall and hit the back of her head on the court while trying to draw an offensive charge. She briefly stood up with assistance and took a few steps before laying back down. Paramedics were called, and Poa was taken off the court on a stretcher and transported to St. Francis Hospital for evaluation. She was diagnosed with a concussion but had movement in her limbs and feeling throughout her body. Poa was expected to be released from the hospital that night and watched the subsequent championship game from the team hotel.
The injury occurred during the SEC Women's Tournament semifinals, and it marked the second consecutive game in which LSU lost a key player to injury. Poa, a 5-foot-11 junior from Australia, had started the previous three games in place of SEC Freshman of the Year Mikaylah Williams, who was nursing an injury.
Following Poa's injury, her teammates and coaches were understandably emotional. Tigers coach Kim Mulkey communicated with Poa's family in Australia and assured the team that Poa was okay and moving her legs. Mulkey also shared the good news that Poa's scan at the hospital came back clean.
Poa's concussion sidelined her for the SEC Tournament championship game, which LSU won, with teammate Angel Reese dedicating the victory to Poa. The LSU community showed their support for Poa, with sophomore guard Flau'jae Johnson taking to social media to offer prayers and well wishes for her teammate.
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Poa's role at LSU
Last-Tear Poa is a 5-foot-11 guard for the LSU Tigers women's basketball team. Before joining LSU, Poa played at Northwest Florida State College, where she was considered the top JUCO transfer in the country. During her freshman season, she led the Raiders to a NJCAA National Championship, earning NJCAA Tournament MVP honours. She averaged 23.0 points and 40 minutes played while shooting 44.9% from the field and 43.5% from beyond the three-point arc during the championship season.
Poa was named the FCSAA Player of the Year following the 2021-22 season after averaging 14.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. She then transferred to LSU, where she earned a role in the regular rotation of players. Poa is a skilled ball handler and has a knack for drawing offensive fouls. She played a crucial role in LSU's first-ever Women's Basketball National Championship win in 2023, defeating Iowa 102-85.
During the 2022-23 season, Poa suffered a concussion during a game against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament, which caused concern for her health and safety. However, she recovered and was determined to help her team succeed in the NCAA Tournament. Poa's commitment to her team and her ability to bounce back from injuries demonstrate her resilience and dedication to the sport.
In addition to her athletic abilities, Poa takes pride in her Polynesian heritage. She was born in Melbourne, Australia, and her family originates from the Cook Islands in French Polynesia. Celebrating her culture is essential to her identity, and she has expressed interest in sharing her traditions with her teammates. Poa's unique name honours her great-grandmother, who predicted her child's birth. Sadly, Poa's great-grandmother passed away shortly before Poa was born, shedding one last tear before her death.
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Frequently asked questions
Last-Tear Poa is a guard for the LSU Tigers. She is from Melbourne, Australia, and has Polynesian heritage.
Poa started playing basketball at the age of 10. She played for Northwest Florida State College, where she was considered the top JUCO transfer in the country. She led her team to an NJCAA National Championship during her freshman season and was named the FCSAA Player of the Year following the 2021-22 season. Poa then transferred to LSU.
Poa is a point guard and is known for her defensive skills, particularly in drawing charges. She averaged 4.9 points per game last season, her best statistical season so far.
