College basketball changes fast. One day you’re celebrating a National Championship in Baton Rouge, and the next, you’re looking at a map of Tempe, Arizona, wondering where to find the best apartment near campus. That’s the reality for Last-Tear Poa, the former LSU guard who officially traded her purple and gold threads for Arizona State's maroon and gold.
Honestly, the Last-Tear Poa transfer portal saga was one of the more bittersweet storylines of the 2025 offseason. If you follow Kim Mulkey’s program, you know Poa wasn't just another name on the roster. She was the spark plug. The grit. The person willing to take a charge when the game was on the line. But in the world of modern NCAA athletics, sometimes the fit just… stops fitting.
Moving On From the Bayou
Why leave? LSU is a powerhouse. They have the rings. They have the NIL deals. They have the spotlight. But they also have a backboard that’s getting increasingly crowded. After three seasons—one at the JUCO level and two with the Tigers—Poa saw the writing on the wall.
LSU's backcourt was getting younger and more explosive. During the 2024-25 season, Poa started 15 games, which sounds like a lot until you look at the minutes. She was averaging about 12.8 minutes per game. For a senior with one year of eligibility left, "rotational piece" isn't the goal. You want to be "the piece."
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She entered the portal in early April 2025, right after the Tigers fell to UCLA in the Elite Eight. It wasn't a shock, but it felt like the end of an era. Poa was a survivor of the 2023 championship run. Fans loved her. Seeing her name in the transfer portal felt like losing a bit of the team's soul.
Why Arizona State and Molly Miller?
The Sun Devils didn't waste any time. Seriously, they moved fast. Arizona State had just hired Molly Miller away from Grand Canyon University. Miller is a winner—she went 32-3 in her final season at GCU. She needed a veteran presence to anchor her new system in the Big 12, and Poa was basically the perfect candidate.
Poa’s stats won't jump off the page. She averaged 2.0 points and 1.9 assists last year.
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Stats lie.
If you watch the tape, you see the value. She’s 5'11", she’s a defensive nightmare for opposing guards, and she’s played in the highest-pressure games imaginable. Arizona State isn't just getting a point guard; they’re getting a blueprint for what a champion looks like. For a program that’s been struggling to find its footing after the Natasha Adair era, this was a massive "get."
The Visa Hurdle
There’s a weird layer to this story that most people ignore. Poa is an Australian national. Because of that, her NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) situation is a total headache. International athletes on F-1 student visas generally can’t do off-campus work, which includes most NIL deals.
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Poa actually filed a lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) over a denied P-1A visa. She wanted the same rights as professional athletes to benefit from her own brand. It’s a messy, ongoing legal battle that highlights just how complicated the Last-Tear Poa transfer portal move actually was. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about her future.
What to Expect in 2026
So, here we are in January 2026. Poa is now the "emotional heartbeat" of the Sun Devils. She’s playing more minutes, handling the ball more, and finally getting that "senior year" experience she was looking for.
Arizona State is actually competing in the Big 12. It’s a tough conference, but having a guard who doesn't rattle is a huge advantage. Molly Miller’s "speed dating" approach to the portal—essentially hunting for high-character vets—seems to be paying off.
Actionable Steps for Following the Portal
If you're trying to keep up with players like Poa or just the general chaos of the NCAA, here is how you stay ahead:
- Track the Windows: The 2026 winter portal window is shorter than ever (Jan 2–17). If a player isn't in by then, they’re likely staying put until summer.
- Watch the JUCO Ruling: Poa benefited from a recent NCAA ruling regarding JUCO eligibility. Always check if a player has an "extra" year due to COVID or JUCO status; it changes their market value significantly.
- Follow the Lawyers: As Poa’s visa case proves, the courtrooms are becoming as important as the locker rooms. Keep an eye on the "College Sports Litigation Tracker" for updates on international player rights.
The Last-Tear Poa transfer portal move was about a player bet on herself. She left the comfort of a blue-blood program for a rebuild in the desert. Whether she ends up in the WNBA or heading back to Australia to play professionally, her move to Tempe proved that in the portal era, experience is the most valuable currency there is.