LSU women’s basketball forward Kate Koval will not return to the team next season, head coach Kim Mulkey announced Monday. The decision follows LSU’s signing of 17-year-old Russian center Anna Minaeva less than two weeks prior.
Mulkey stated in a release that Koval made the choice for personal reasons, emphasizing the player’s privacy while confirming the decision was difficult. "Kate is a great person," Mulkey said. "She has to do what she feels is right for her, and we fully support her in that."
Koval, a 6-foot-5 rising junior, averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game last season after transferring from Notre Dame. Minaeva, also 6-foot-5, previously played professionally with MBA Moscow and joins LSU from Russia. No replacement for Koval has been announced.
Background and Context
Koval was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, and her father serves as a drone operator in the Ukrainian military amid Russia’s ongoing invasion, which began in 2022. In prior interviews, Koval expressed concern for her father’s safety, stating she worried for his life "every single day." The timing of her departure—shortly after LSU’s recruitment of a Russian athlete—has drawn attention, though Mulkey did not link the two events.
Mulkey had previously suggested Koval and Minaeva could serve as ambassadors to foster unity within the program. "I cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conflict between two countries," Mulkey told NOLA.com. The coach did not specify whether the pairing was intended as a symbolic gesture.
Program and Geopolitical Implications
LSU’s roster changes come amid heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with no clear resolution to the war in sight. The conflict has also impacted international sports, including basketball, where Ukrainian and Russian athletes have rarely shared teams since February 2022. Koval’s departure leaves a void in LSU’s frontcourt, though the program has not indicated plans to replace her immediately.
Mulkey’s statement did not address potential roster adjustments or the status of Minaeva’s eligibility. The Tigers will proceed with the 2024-25 season without Koval, who remains eligible to transfer to another program.