Overview
- LSU coach Kim Mulkey announced that Kate Koval told her on Sunday and formally left the program for personal reasons in a statement released Monday.
- The move came about 10 days after LSU signed 17-year-old Russian center Anna Minaeva, and Mulkey says she discussed Minaeva’s recruitment with Koval before the signing.
- Koval is from Kyiv and several reports note her father serves in the Ukrainian military, a fact that media and fans point to as a sensitive factor though neither Koval nor LSU has confirmed a link to the Russian signing.
- Koval averaged about 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds last season, so her exit creates a clear frontcourt depth gap for LSU and could prompt the staff to pursue returned veterans or other short-term options.
- Because the transfer portal is closed and classes have already started, Koval likely cannot play for another program this season without an NCAA waiver and LSU says it will respect her privacy as her next steps are sorted.