NCAA champ Last-Tear Poa returns home to Bandits

• ‍It's a Cole World: Last-Tear Poa on her incredible college career‍
• From LSU Tiger to Arizona State Sun Devil: Poa's new college home‍
• How Angel Reese changed women's basketball

Victorian Last-Tear Poa has already won a national championship, guarded Caitlin Clark on college basketball's biggest stage and chased her WNBA dream.

Now the 24-year-old guard is bringing that experience home after signing with the Albury-Wodonga Bandits in NBL1 East.

In two games with the Bandits she's already delivered a triple double against Hills Hornets on June 14: June 14 with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Poa declared for the 2026 WNBA Draft after completing her college career but went unselected.

She has returned to Australia and wasted little time making an impact, averaging 9.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and seven assists across her opening two games for the Bandits.

The championship run at LSU

Poa's American college career reached its peak during the 2022-23 season when she helped LSU win the NCAA National Championship.

Playing alongside superstar Angel Reese, Poa became one of the Tigers' most trusted defensive stoppers, drawing an extraordinary 31 charges during her junior season.

"It didn't even feel real," Poa said of winning the title.

"When the confetti was coming down and everyone was announcing it ... it was a proud moment."

Her defence was crucial in LSU's championship game victory against Iowa, where she famously drew two offensive fouls on Caitlin Clark.

Those momentum-shifting plays helped LSU secure the national title and elevated Poa's reputation as one of the toughest perimeter defenders in college basketball.

"Film was so important," Poa said of preparing for Clark.

"We watched film the whole week, even the night before the game. It was intense, but so fun to play against her."

The celebrations continued after the season with a visit to the White House to meet then-US President Joe Biden.

"It's a tick off the bucket list," she said.

Chasing one more run

After three seasons at LSU, Poa transferred to Arizona State for her final year of eligibility.

The decision was largely driven by her relationship with head coach Molly Miller.

"Honestly, it was really coach Molly," Poa said.

"I'm always the type to follow the coach. I don't really care about programs."

The move gave Poa the biggest role of her college career. She started 31 of 32 games, averaged 22.4 minutes and posted career highs in rebounds and assists.

More importantly, it reinforced the style of player she had become.

"My intensity always starts on defence," Poa said.

"I feel like once I bring that into the game, everything else kind of flows."

That defensive mindset had already become her trademark.

At LSU she recorded six steals in a game, led the team in free throw percentage during the championship season and routinely guarded the opposition's best perimeter player.

Learning from Angel Reese

Playing alongside Reese also changed Poa's understanding of leadership.

"Holding people accountable," Poa said.

"That was the one thing I know for sure she would hold you accountable.

"In the game, if you stuffed it up or did something, she'll tell you how it is."

Poa believes Reese was instrumental in transforming women's basketball into a mainstream phenomenon.

"She's one of the reasons — actually the main reason — why women's basketball changed that year that we won," she said.

The WNBA dream isn't over

Poa entered the 2026 WNBA Draft believing she had done enough to earn a place in the league.

She wasn't selected. But the Bandits have given Poa a chance to continue developing her game while remaining visible to overseas clubs and WNBA scouts.

Basketball has always been about more than herself. Poa studied business and often talks about creating opportunities for her family.

"I want to know how the rich get wealthy," she said.

"I'm doing this for my siblings."