Kyiv-born basketball player Kate Koval is leaving Louisiana State University (LSU) following the program’s signing of 17-year-old Russian center Anna Minaeva. Koval, a 6-foot-5 center, initially began her college career at Notre Dame before transferring to LSU for the 2025–26 season, where she averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey announced Koval’s departure, stating that the player was leaving the program for “personal reasons” after a difficult decision. Mulkey expressed support for Koval, noting that the university respects her privacy and wishes her the best, while neither Koval nor the university has publicly linked her exit to Minaeva’s recruitment.
Minaeva’s signing was announced shortly before Koval’s departure. The 17-year-old Russian player previously competed for MBA Moscow in Russia’s Premier League and Superleague, averaging 11.2 points and 9.6 rebounds over 29 games in the 2025–26 season. Mulkey praised Minaeva’s size, experience, and defensive and offensive versatility following her addition to the Tigers’ frontcourt. Koval’s future destination has not yet been announced.
