Kateri Poole undergoes knee surgery, will miss rest of 2025-26 for Houston women’s basketball

Graduate guard Kateri Poole will miss the rest of the 2025-26 season for Houston women’s basketball after undergoing left knee surgery, coach Matthew Mitchell announced Friday.

“Kateri underwent knee surgery this week and will miss the remained of the season,” Mitchell said in a statement. “While we are heartbroken for her, she is a tough competitor. We are confident she will approach her recovery with the same determination. We wish her all the best during her recovery process.”

The surgery came after Poole reaggravated her left knee in Houston’s Baha Mar Hoops opener against Arkansas State on Nov. 28. It was the same knee in which she suffered a lateral meniscus and an ACL tear in a preseason scrimmage that caused her to miss all of 2024-25, the season she was originally set to make her debut for the Cougars after transferring from LSU.

After nearly two full years off the court, Poole made her return in Houston’s 2025-26 season-opener against UT Arlington on Nov. 4, logging four points and four assists in 20 minutes. In seven games under Mitchell’s inaugural campaign, Poole averaged 3.9 points and 1.7 assists.

Having played for just 24.1% of the season, Poole is eligible in 2026-27 under NCAA criteria.