Kate Koval on leaving LSU after addition of Russian player: 'For me, this war is not distant or abstract'

Kate Koval, the former LSU center who left the program last week due to personal reasons , confirmed in a social media post that her decision was made due to the signing of Russian center Anna Minaeva.

Koval, who is from Ukraine, wrote that she intended to return to LSU for this season until she learned that Minaeva had been recruited to the team.

"For me, this war is not distant or abstract," wrote Koval, whose father serves in the Ukrainian military and has been part of the war since Russia invaded the country in 2022. "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 she was told by head coach Kim Mulkey of the signing "several days" after the closing of the transfer portal window on April 20. That made the center "question whether LSU remained the right place for me."

Mulkey told The Advocate last week that she talked to Koval before recruiting Minaeva.

"I want you to understand I'm not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia," Mulkey said, recalling her conversation with Koval. "I'm just here out of respect for your family and out of respect for you to let you know. Because I know how personal it is for you. "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."

"I want you to understand I'm not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia," Mulkey said, recalling her conversation with Koval. "I'm just here out of respect for your family and out of respect for you to let you know. Because I know how personal it is for you.

"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."

Due to the timing of Koval's departure, she would require NCAA approval in order to play elsewhere for the 2026-27 season.

In her statement Koval said she hoped the NCAA would consider the situation and allow her to move on without issue.

"More than anything, I hope I am given the opportunity to compete at another school during the 2026-27 basketball season," wrote Koval, who has two years of eligibility remaining.

"I know it is hard because she loves LSU," Mulkey said last week in a statement. "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 began her collegiate career at Notre Dame before transferring to LSU last season. She averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds and started 17 games for the Tigers, while shooting 56% from the field and helping the team reach the Sweet 16.