Kate Koval’s Departure from LSU Women’s Basketball

Ukrainian center and former LSU women’s basketball star, Kate Koval, has opened up about her decision to leave the team. Koval stepped away from the program in August, with LSU head coach Kim Mulkey attributing her departure to ‘personal reasons.’ On Wednesday, Koval shared her perspective on Instagram, revealing that her decision followed the recruitment of 17-year-old Russian center Anna Minaeva by Mulkey.

In her statement, Koval expressed, ‘After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step away from the LSU Women’s Basketball program and withdraw from LSU.’ Initially, she had planned to return to the Tigers after the previous season. However, she learned about the signing of a Russian player in April, shortly after the transfer portal closed.

Koval further elaborated that her father’s service in the Ukrainian Army and the impact of ‘Russian aggression’ on her friends and family played a significant role in her decision. Mulkey, on her part, stated her intention to act in the basketball program’s best interest by recruiting Minaeva. She indicated that she could not avoid signing a player who could enhance the program due to international conflicts.

LSU Head Coach Kim Mulkey reportedly believed Minaeva and Koval could serve as “ambassadors” to foster peace and unity through the basketball team environment. However, Koval shared that the situation’s timing and its personal impact on her family, who remain affected by the ongoing war, led her to question her future at LSU.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Koval aims to continue her college basketball career with a different team in the 2026-27 season. She conveyed her hope that the NCAA will recognize the seriousness of her situation and provide her with the opportunity to play for another school in the upcoming season.

OutKick reached out to Koval’s representatives for comments and were redirected to her public statement shared earlier.