Ukrainian LSU women’s basketball player leaves team over signing of Russian recruit

Ukrainian forward Kate Koval left LSU’s women’s basketball program because the team signed a Russian player, in the midst of Moscow’s continued military action, she disclosed on social media Wednesday.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey announced last week that the 6-foot-5 Koval had left for “personal reasons” after just one season in Baton Rouge.

It was widely believed that Koval, 20, opted out in opposition to LSU’s signing 6-foot-5 Russian center Anna Minaeva, who previously played professionally for MBA Moscow.

Koval made it clear on Wednesday that her departure was directly tied to Minaeva’s addition to the team and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of the former Soviet Republic that’s lasted now for 4 1/2 years.

“The timing of this situation and the deeply personal effect it has had on me, my family and those we care about who continue to live through and fight this war ultimately made me question whether LSU remained the right place for me,” Koval said.

“This decision has not been easy. While I understand and respect that roster decisions are a part of college basketball, I have to remain true to myself, my values and my country.”

Koval said Wednesday that she’s proud of her father’s service in the Ukrainian military as it defends the nation against Russia’s 4½-year-long invasion of the former Soviet republic.

“My father serves in the Ukrainian military and takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression,” Koval wrote in a statement.

“For me, this war is not distant or abstract. People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and first began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes.”

Koval said that she enjoyed her time in Baton Rouge but that the Russian player’s addition to the LSU roster made the setting untenable.

Koval said she wasn’t told about the addition of Minaeva until April, days after the transfer portal had closed. So without special action from the NCAA, she might be forced to sit out the 2026-27 season.

“I hope the NCAA recognizes the circumstances surrounding my situation and understands the seriousness and deep nature of this matter,” she said.

“More than anything, I hope I am given the opportunity to compete at another school during the upcoming 2026-27 basketball season.”

An NCAA representative said Thursday the governing body of college sports does not publicly discuss individual cases.

The NCAA has occasionally granted transfer waivers based on “exigent circumstances that clearly necessitate a student-athlete’s immediate departure from the previous school” that are “unrelated to the student-athlete’s athletics participation.”

An LSU athletic department spokesperson on Thursday said the school wouldn’t expand from the statement coach Mulkey issued on Aug. 25.

“Kate came to see me on Sunday and told me that after much consideration, she will be leaving the program for personal reasons,” according to Mulkey.

“We will respect her privacy on her decision, but we had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her. I know it is hard because she loves LSU. Kate is a great person. She has to do what she feels is right for her, and we fully support her in that. We all wish her the best.”

Koval played her freshman season at Notre Dame before she transferred to LSU last season. She played in all 35 games for LSU, 17 as a starter, and averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks in 16.6 minutes per contest.

The Tigers were upset in the Sweet 16 in March as a buzzer-beater by Duke’s Ashlon Jackson forced LSU’s earliest tournament exit since 2022.