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Niceville Today
By the People, for the People
Australian ASU Player Poa Awaits Ruling on NIL Lawsuit
Last-Tear Poa, a women's basketball player at Arizona State, is challenging the NCAA's ban on international athletes earning NIL money.
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
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Last-Tear Poa, a 24-year-old Australian women's basketball player at Arizona State University, has filed a lawsuit challenging the NCAA's policy that prevents international athletes from earning Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) money. Poa, who previously played at LSU, is seeking a P1-A visa that would allow her to earn NIL income while competing in college. Her lawyer argues that the primary purpose of international college athletes is athletic performance, not just academics, and that they should be able to benefit financially from their NIL rights like domestic athletes. The lawsuit is still working its way through the legal system, and Poa awaits a decision that could impact the opportunities available to the thousands of international athletes competing in NCAA Division I sports.
Why it matters
The case highlights the growing number of international athletes competing in NCAA Division I sports, which has increased by 175% since 2010. As the NIL landscape has evolved, international athletes like Poa have been excluded from the ability to earn endorsement and sponsorship income that their American counterparts can access. A ruling in Poa's favor could set a precedent that opens up NIL opportunities for the over 14,000 international athletes participating in NCAA Division I sports.
The details
Poa, a 24-year-old Australian, filed a lawsuit in October 2024 after her petition for a P1-A visa was denied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The P1-A visa would enable her to earn money as an athlete at an internationally recognized level of performance. In September 2025, a Louisiana-based judge denied the government's request to dismiss the lawsuit, leaving the door open for international athletes to apply for a visa that would make it easier for them to make money in the U.S. while playing college sports. Poa's lawyer, Ksenia Maiorova, argues that the primary purpose for college athletes is athletic performance, not just academics, and that international athletes should be able to benefit from NIL payments like their American counterparts.
- Poa filed the lawsuit in October 2024 after her P1-A visa petition was denied.
- In September 2025, a judge denied the government's request to dismiss the lawsuit.
The players
Last-Tear Poa
A 24-year-old Australian women's basketball player at Arizona State University who previously played at LSU. Poa is the plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the NCAA's ban on international athletes earning NIL money.
Ksenia Maiorova
A sports immigration lawyer and partner at the Florida-based law firm Green and Spiegel who is representing Poa pro bono in the lawsuit.
Molly Miller
The head women's basketball coach at Arizona State University, where Poa currently plays.
Kylee Gallavan
One of Poa's best friends who played with her at Northwest Florida State College and has supported her journey to the Division I level.
What they’re saying
“I think just being able to change, not just for me, but for people behind me and up-and-coming. The Australians coming through, internationals coming through, I want them to have the opportunity because coming into college – it's not fair, because I've been through it all.”
— Last-Tear Poa, Arizona State Women's Basketball Player (azpbs.org)
“It tracks with the guidance by the Department of Homeland Security that says that P-1s can attend school full time as long as the academics are sort of ancillary to the primary purpose, and the primary purpose being athletic.”
— Ksenia Maiorova, Sports Immigration Lawyer (azpbs.org)
“She's wired with that competitive nature, she never stops.”
— Molly Miller, Arizona State Women's Basketball Coach (azpbs.org)
What’s next
Maiorova and her co-counsel Amy Maldonado are preparing for cross motions for summary judgment, where they will argue the merits of the case against the government in federal court in Louisiana. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for other international college athletes seeking to earn NIL income.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing debate around the NCAA's policies regarding international athletes and their ability to earn NIL income. A ruling in favor of Poa could open up new opportunities for the thousands of international athletes competing in NCAA Division I sports, allowing them to financially benefit from their name, image, and likeness like their American counterparts.
