During a recent interview with the Baton Rouge Advocate, LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey tried to forecast the probability of mixing in freshman signee Anna Minaeva of Russia with returning junior center Kate Koval of Kyiv, Ukraine.
The two countries have been at war the past four years, a war that Koval’s father Oleksandr has been part of with the Ukrainian military.
On Monday, the 6-foot-5 Koval informed Mulkey of her decision to leave the program for undisclosed reasons.
“Kate came to see me on Sunday and told me that after much consideration, she will be leaving the program for personal reasons,” Mulkey said in a university release. “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 was considered one of the nation’s top portal signees after spending her freshman season at Notre Dame. In 32 games, she started in 10 of 32 games, averaging 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots – the fifth highest average in school history.
Mulkey recruited Koval, regarded as the nation’s top center out of high school, and was able to convince her transfer to LSU following the 2024-25 season in South Bend, Ind.
Koval provided the Lady Tigers with their lone low-post presence, starting in all of her team’s 35 games with 17 starts. She was second on the team with 43 blocks – ranking 10th nationally in that category – to go with her 8.3 scoring average and 6.3 rebounds.
Koval scored a career-high 23 against Alabama State and more than tripled her made free throws from her freshman to sophomore season. She scored in double figures 14 times and seven double-doubles, including back-to-back games against Georgia Southern and Charlotte, and against Alcorn State and Marist, to increase her career total to nine.
Koval was the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 and No. 1 post player by ESPN Hoopgurlz. She participated in several national all-star games, ranging from the McDonald’s All-American game to the Jordan Brand Classic.
Mulkey attempted to pair Koval and the 6-5 Minaeva, a 17-year-old freshman, for the 2026-27 season in which LSU was expected to contend for the Southeastern Conference and make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament, led by senior guards Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley.
According to The Advocate’s article, Mulkey discussed her plan with Koval for recruiting Minaeva and ultimately signing her to help bolster a team without another true post presence.
