Senior guard Kateri Poole of the University of Houston Women’s Basketball team has been ruled out for the entire 2024-25 season after suffering a left knee injury in a weekend scrimmage, head coach Ronald Hughey announced on Thursday.
Coach Hughey expressed his sadness over the news, emphasizing the significant loss for the team. “We are devastated for Kateri,” Hughey stated. “It’s a tough blow because she has worked so hard, and we were really looking forward to seeing her in action this season. Our main focus now is to support her throughout the recovery process. We know that Kateri will come back even stronger next season.”
Poole, a Bronx, New York native, stands 5’8″ and transferred to Houston ahead of the 2024-25 season. She previously played for LSU, where she was an integral part of the team that won the 2023 National Championship. During her time with LSU in the 2022-23 season, Poole appeared in 35 games, starting in six, including the final five games of the NCAA Tournament. In the championship game against Iowa, she contributed six points.
Before joining LSU, Poole spent two seasons at Ohio State, where she also made a name for herself. During the 2021-22 season, Poole played in 25 games, starting 13, and averaged 4.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 16.1 minutes per game. She played in all three games during Ohio State’s run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. In her freshman season, Poole played in 20 games, starting the last five, and averaged 6.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. For her efforts, she earned a spot on the Big Ten Conference All-Freshman team.
Poole’s basketball journey began as a highly sought-after recruit. She was a five-star prospect and ranked 24th overall in the 2020 class by espnW HoopGurlz. During her high school career, Poole earned numerous accolades, including being named Miss New York by the Basketball Coaches Association of New York. She was also selected to the All-State first team in 2020 and the second team in 2019. Additionally, she was the MVP of the Kyrie Invitational at the Barclays Center in December 2019.
As a senior at South Shore High School, Poole averaged 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game. She had previously spent three seasons at Monsignor Scanlan High School, where she led her team to a runner-up finish in the 2019 state tournament.
Despite this setback, Poole’s presence will undoubtedly be missed this season as Houston had high hopes for her contribution on the court. However, her determination and skill suggest that she will bounce back stronger after her recovery. Fans and the team will be eagerly awaiting her return next season.
To support the Houston Women’s Basketball program, fans are encouraged to purchase season tickets, buy single-game tickets, or contribute to the program through various initiatives, including LinkingCoogs, the university’s NIL collective, and the Fast Break Club, which helps fund the team’s needs beyond its operating budget.
For regular updates on the team, fans can follow the Houston Women’s Basketball team on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram under the handle
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