Kateri Poole’s college basketball journey has been anything but typical. From taking on accusations of espionage (thanks, Coach Mulkey) to landing with the Houston Cougars only to face a season-ending injury, Poole has had more twists and turns than a playoff game in overtime. Unfortunately, Poole’s leg injury now puts an unexpected pause on her plans with Houston, taking her out for the entire 2024/25 season and throwing a wrench in what was set to be her collegiate finale.
But the backstory makes the injury even juicier. Poole left LSU after former head coach Kim Mulkey allegedly accused her of being the team’s very own “inside (wo)man”—claiming she’d shared scouting reports with rival teams. Poole quickly shot down the accusation, leaving LSU in her rearview and entering the transfer portal, where Houston swooped her up in hopes of a fresh start. And considering Poole was part of LSU’s 2023 National Championship team, it was no small loss for Mulkey’s squad.
Just when Poole looked set to finally leave the LSU drama behind, fate intervened. During preseason prep, she suffered a leg injury that will keep her off the court, leaving the former top recruit and fifth-year player stuck in a holding pattern. The injury timing couldn’t be worse for Houston, whose head coach, Ronald Hughey, praised Poole’s work ethic and grit.
“We are devastated for Kateri,” Hughey said. “It’s a huge loss because Kateri has worked so hard, and we were looking forward to having her on the court this season. We’ll be there to support her every step of the way during recovery. We know she’ll be back stronger than ever next season.”
With this setback, Poole could have a decision to make: try for one more NCAA season or aim for the WNBA Draft, potentially linking up with her former LSU teammate and Chicago Sky rookie star Angel Reese.
As one of the top recruits out of high school, Poole’s talent is undeniable, and her track record has some fans hoping she’ll bring her A-game to the pros once she’s recovered. For now, though, Poole’s fans—and maybe even Mulkey’s critics—will be keeping an eye on where her journey heads next. So whether she’s healing up for one last season in Houston or suiting up for the big leagues, one thing’s for sure: Poole’s story is far from over.
