Ukrainian centre Kate Koval exits LSU days after signing of Russian recruit
Ukrainian centre Kate Koval is leaving LSU women’s basketball, LSU coach Kim Mulkey said on Monday night, less than two weeks after the Tigers added a player from Russia to the roster. Mulkey said Koval was departing for "personal reasons" and that the programme will "respect her privacy on her decision".
Koval, who was born in Kyiv and whose father serves in the Ukrainian military, began her college career at Notre Dame before transferring to LSU prior to last season. In her lone season with the Tigers she averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 16.6 minutes per game.
Earlier this month LSU signed 17-year-old Anna Minaeva, who previously played professionally with MBA Moscow, and Mulkey said she had spoken to Koval about Minaeva joining the team before the signing was announced. In an interview with the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate last week Mulkey recalled telling Koval: "I want you to understand I’m not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia. 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."
On Koval’s departure Mulkey said: "We had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her," adding: "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 high school basketball in New York, where she was described as one of the best young players in the country, and she represented Ukraine at the Fiba 3x3 World Cup this summer.
Mulkey had said she hoped the two players could serve as "ambassadors" for sport and peace amid the conflict between the countries. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and the two countries have been at war since.