Ex-LSU basketball star reveals why Kim Mulkey kicked her off team

Former LSU basketball star Kateri Poole has finally shed light on why she was dismissed by head coach Kim Mulkey early in the 2023-24 season.

Apr 2, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark drives to the basket against LSU Lady Tigers guard Kateri Poole. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fresh off of a national championship, the LSU women's basketball team hit some early roadblocks in the 2023-24 season. Angel Reese took an abrupt four-game absence, and guard Kateri Poole was suddenly absent from the roster.

Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey never spoke on why Poole was removed from the team, simply saying, "She's no longer with us."

But, thanks to the power of social media, Poole has her own voice and platform and she finally broke her silence on the situation on Thursday, September 26, during an Instagram Live.

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Poole was asked by a follower, “Why did you stop playing at LSU?”

The 21-year-old then spilled the beans.

According to Poole, Coach Mulkey suspected her of leaking a game plan to another program and determined she could no longer be associated with LSU.

Apr 2, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark defends as LSU Lady Tigers guard Kateri Poole drives to the basket. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

"Truthfully, [Mulkey] said that I sent in a scouting report to another school," she revealed."I ain't do that sh*t... I was like, 'What do we do now?' She said, 'You're kicked off.' I said, 'Boom, aight.' She said, 'No longer on the team.' I took it, asked if I could still play. She said 'yep.' Scholarship, boom, was allowed to transfer. Now, I'm at Houston. Please stop asking me about that sh*t."

In May 2024, Poole officially transferred to the Houston Cougars to finish out her collegiate career.

SU Lady Tigers guard Kateri Poole reacts with forward Angel Reese during a stop in play against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half in semifinals of the women's Final Four. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Poole, who is from The Bronx, started her college career with the Ohio State Buckeyes. After two seasons, she transferred to LSU and played a critical role off of the bench. She started in the final five games of the NCAA Tournament because of her defensive prowess.

In the national championship win over Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, Poole drained her two three-point attempts, including the dagger that ended Iowa's hopes of a comeback.

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