How Angel Reese changed women's basketball

• 'All about energy': Inside Last-Tear Poa's Arizona State University transfer
• From Tiger to Sun Devil: Last-Tear Poa's new college home
• Last-Tear Poa embraces Senior role at LSU in 2024-25
• It's a Cole World: Last-Tear Poa on her incredible college career

American WNBA star Angel Reese changed women's basketball in 2023, her former LSU teammate Last-Tear Poa declared in an exclusive interview with basketball.com.au.

"I might get hate for this, but she’s the main reason why women’s basketball changed that year," Poa said.

"She brought intensity and stood on business. I loved playing with Angel — I wish I could again. She taught me a lot — on and off the court. Being the point guard, when I got the ball, she was running — she made things easy. And if we shot, she’d get the rebound.

"Her shoulders were heavy, but she wore that crown to the top."

Reese and Poa were teammates on LSU's Lady Tigers NCAA Women’s National Championship team, beating Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes 102–85 in the 2023 March Madness Final. Poa played seven minutes in the championship game — but they changed the game. She took two charges on Clark and went 2-from-2 from three, finishing with six points and two assists.

"I was already known for drawing a lot of charges, so we prioritised that," Poa said of the scout on Clark.

"Film was so important — we watched film all week, the night before the game, before the game — everything. It was intense but so fun playing against her. Kudos to her, she’s a bucket, for real. She’s like the Steph Curry of the women’s game. She inspires others and brings big atmospheres even to the WNBA now.

Playing against her changed my life too — my followers went up because of her, so thank you!"

But Poa said it was Reese's drive, leadership and determination that moulded the Tigers into winners — and her now-infamous "ring" gesture to Clark that set up a WNBA rivalry between the two stars for at least a decade to come.

"Holding people accountable," Poa said.

"Reese would not shy away from that. She’d tell you straight if you stuffed up. A lot of girls in my generation shy away from that, but she taught me how to hold others accountable. That’s something I’m bringing to this team now."

Poa's reference to "this team now" is the Arizona State University Sun Devils. She transferred to the Sun Devils after graduating from LSU earlier this year and was determined to make an impact in her final year of eligibility.

"My maturity, experience, being a good teammate — that’s so underrated. It’s not just about how you talk to teammates; it’s about understanding them," she revealed. "Also, bringing the intensity and discipline. But this year, I’m definitely going to be more of a scorer — I’ve been working on that all summer. And defensively, I want to be back up there — just be a dog."

Poa also took a moment to share advice for other Australian women's basketballers considering a US college career.

"Go to college. Experience it, good or bad," she said. "I’ve had friends come over, some went home, but sticking it out made me a better person. Stay disciplined and focused. Make your circle small — you don’t know if people are genuinely there for you.

"Anneli Maley once told me: 'Make friends outside your sport'. Best advice ever. Now I have friends who are lawyers, in business — different walks of life. Have friends outside of sport.

"But seriously, have fun, enjoy life, and stay disciplined."