“She’s no longer with us,” Kim Mulkey confirmed last December, addressing Kateri Poole’s sudden departure from the LSU Tigers. Rumors had already started swirling, with Poole’s repeated benching and absence hinting at tension between the 21-year-old guard and the head coach. Still, the news came as a surprise, and the reasons behind the move remained a mystery. Fast forward to today, Poole is gearing up for a fresh start with the Houston Cougars and sheds light on what really happened during their time at LSU.

Recently, a clip from one of Kateri Poole’s live streams surfaced over X where a viewer asked them, “Why did you stop playing at LSU?” The Houston Cougars guard opened up about their experience, sharing “Truthfully, she said I sent in the scouting report to another school. I ain’t do that sh-t. She said that. I was like, ‘what did we do now?’ and then she said ‘you kicked off’. I say boom alright. She said ‘no longer in the team’. I took it, asked if I could still play. She’d say ‘yep scholarship’. Boom, was allowed transfer.”

While the Bronx-born athlete recounted the events that led to their departure from LSU, their frustration was evident. They urged everyone to refrain from asking about that particular incident. The 21-year-old guard joined the Lady Tigers before the 2022-23 season after making the decision to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes and entering the transfer portal.

However, their unexpected exit from LSU last year pushed them back into the transfer portal, but this time they found a new home with Ronald Hughey’s team at the University of Houston. Despite a not-so-happy ending with the Lady Tigers, Poole made a remarkable impact during their two seasons there.

Kateri Poole: From championship contributor to unexpected goodbye

The 5-foot-8 athlete played a crucial role on the LSU Tigers’ championship-winning team, participating in 35 games throughout the season. They made a significant contribution in the Round of 32 matchup against Michigan, then showcasing their skills with an impressive 7-of-12 performance from beyond the arc in the game that followed. By the end of the 2022-23 season, Poole averaged 4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.

The following season told a different tale for Kateri Poole, as she appeared in just four games. Their absence during the matchup against Kent State on November 14 was attributed to a “coach’s decision.” After securing a victory in a game on December 10, head coach Kim Mulkey dropped a bombshell in a press conference, stating, “She’s no longer with us.”

Their last game with LSU took place on November 17 against Southeastern Louisiana, marking the end of the time with the Tigers. They originally joined the team in 2022 after leaving Ohio State, where they faced stiff competition for playing time at the guard position. Now, almost a year after her LSU’s exit, the 21-year-old is all set to debut for their third home in collegiate career in red and black colors of Cougars. Nevertheless, their recent revelation might push Mulkey once again into a bizarre.