December 05, 2024: Notre Dame forward Kate Koval 13 during NCAA, College League, USA Women s Basketball game action between the Texas Longhorns and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Indiana. /CSM. - ZUMAc04_ 20241205_zma_c04_276 Copyright: xJohnxMersitsx

Kate Koval reveals the real reason behind leaving the LSU basketball team

Sep 5, 2026, 12:18 PM CUT

Kate Koval has explained why she walked away from the LSU women's basketball program just days before the start of the 2026-27 season.

Koval, a Ukrainian center who was expected to start under LSU Tigers HC Kim Mulkey, said the decision was tied to LSU's recruitment of Russian player Anna Minaeva.

“I have made the difficult decision to step away from the LSU Women’s Basketball program and withdraw from LSU... in April, several days after the transfer portal had closed, I was informed of the decision to sign a Russian player,” Koval wrote in an Instagram post shared on September 3.

NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball 2024: Mercyhurst vs Notre Dame NOV 04 November 04, 2024: Notre Dame forward Kate Koval 13 grabs the rebound during NCAA Women s Basketball game action between the Mercyhurst Lakers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Indiana. John Mersits/CSM. Credit Image: Â John Mersits/Cal Media EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20241104_zma_c04_089.jpg JohnxMersitsx csmphotothree314372

The 17-year-old was announced as a new LSU player in mid-August, but Koval said she had learned about the decision after the transfer portal had already closed.

The timing left Koval in a difficult position. Koval wrote in her Instagram post that she had intended to remain at LSU after the 2025-26 season.

But learning that the program would bring in a Russian player made her reconsider whether Baton Rouge was still the right place for her.

Her decision is also deeply personal.

Kim Mulkey had already discussed Minaeva with Koval

Koval's departure was initially described by LSU as being for “personal reasons.” Mulkey announced last week that Koval had approached her on August 23 to leave the team, nine days after LSU announced Minaeva's signing.

LSU, meanwhile, has publicly supported Koval's decision. However, Mulkey had previously spoken with Koval about Minaeva during the recruiting process.

“Know that what I have to do in this business, I cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conflict between two countries,” Mulkey told The Advocate, cited by Margaret Fleming of the Front Office Sports.

Koval had already settled into a role at LSU after transferring from Notre Dame last summer. She played all 35 games for the Tigers in 2025-26, starting 17 of them and putting up 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Now, Koval is asking the NCAA to allow her to find another school for the 2026-27 season. She left the team before classes began, but the transfer rules could still prevent her from playing elsewhere this season without a waiver.

If the NCAA denies her request, Koval could be forced to sit out the entire season and wait until next April to enter the transfer portal.

“This decision has not been easy,” Koval wrote. “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.”

LSU made a recruiting decision it believed was right for its basketball program, while Koval decided that remaining with the team was incompatible with deeply held personal reasons.

Written by

Rudra Dubey