“I met the most broken version of me”: LSU’s Last-Tear Poa sums up challenging 2024 with embrace

LSU star Last-Tear Poa looked back on 2024 with gratitude despite having a challenging year. The Australian player took to her Instagram story to summarize how the year turned out for her as she entered 2025. In the post, Poa shared short video clips of herself, with the caption:

"Even though this year I met the most broken version of me, I also met the strongest version of me."

Last-Tear Poa IG story post. Image via @lasttear_poa11

Poa endured a difficult season with LSU, only averaging 2.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists from 24.0 percent shooting. This was amid a lawsuit she filed against the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Last-Tear Poa tells teammate Flau'Jae Johnson why she filed lawsuit against USCIS

Last-Tear Poa is reportedly the first collegiate athlete to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services over the NIL employment opportunities that the agency deters international students from partaking in.

Poa is from Australia and her attorney, Ksenia Maiorova, stated that the agency denied the LSU senior's visa application in a bid to become eligible for Name Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.

In a chat with Flau'Jae Johnson in the "Best of Both Worlds" podcast, Poa said that she threw the legal challenge against the USCIS so that other international athletes can earn from NIL deals.

"I did it because, like my platform, it's not easy to get it (the NIL deals as an international player). I think it'll be a great opportunity for people behind me that's coming up to earn the money they worked hard for," Poa said (8:10).

"I'm like on the other side of the world but (the NIL will) be a great opportunity to earn pretty much, get the money that we deserve. Because you know, like Georgia Amoore, she's in Kentucky and she's pretty much done most of the things I've done but like we can't earn anything," she added (8:55).

As an international student, Poa has an F-1student visa which restricts international students from employment opportunities off campus unless it is related to their major.

She will need a P-1A athlete visa, which is primarily granted to professional athletes moving to the US to compete, and amateur athletes who compete at internationally-recognized tournaments.