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LSU guard Last-Tear Poa (13) makes the pass during the first practice on Monday, September 23, 2024 at the PMAC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

LSU women's basketball guard Last-Tear Poa has filed a lawsuit against US Citizenship and Immigration Services, reportedly because the agency denied her a visa that would help her strike NIL deals.?

On3 reported Wednesday that Poa filed the sealed lawsuit in the Middle District of Louisiana because she was denied a P-1A visa, a document that would remove barriers preventing her from profiting off her name, image and likeness. Current US immigration policy limits the number of employment opportunities that international students can pursue.?

Poa, a senior guard from Melbourne, Australia, filed the suit on Oct. 24. She's beginning her third season at LSU and her fifth playing college basketball in the US.?

Last year, Poa appeared in 36 games, primarily filling a reserve ballhandling role for LSU. She averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 assists per game and drew 31 charges.?

Poa was absent from both of LSU's exhibition games. After the Tigers beat Xavier of New Orleans on Oct. 24 — the same day Poa filed suit — coach Kim Mulkey said the point guard did not play because she was "taking care of business off the floor."

On Wednesday, Mulkey said she was unaware of Poa's lawsuit, and an LSU spokesperson said Thursday that her absence is not related to the filing.?

Mulkey said she does not expect Poa to play Monday when LSU tips off its season at 7 p.m. against Eastern Kentucky in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.?

Staff writer Koki Riley contributed to this report.

Email Reed Darcey at reed.darcey@theadvocate.com.