Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Nov 17, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers guard Flau'Jae Johnson (4) reacts to a play by LSU Tigers forward Kate Koval (13) next to Tulane Green Wave forward Dyllan Hanna (22) during the first half at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse.
Kate Koval looked as if she was in line to be the starting center for the LSU Tigers women’s basketball program in 2026-27 after starting in 17 of 35 appearances a year ago.
Now, after head coach Kim Mulkey forced Koval, whose father serves in the Ukrainian army, to play alongside new Russian transfer Anna Minaeva, Koval has left the program.
And many believe that Mulkey put her in a lose-lose situation.
Kate Koval Parts Ways With LSU Women’s Basketball Program
Mulkey recently gave an interview explaining her decision to bring in Minaeva with Koval already on the roster. But she also noted that she didn’t exactly give Koval any say in the matter.
“I want you to understand I’m not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia,” Mulkey said of 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.”
We’re not sure how exactly Mulkey thought that this would all end. But on Monday, LSU announced Koval’s departure from the program.
A Statement From Head Coach Kim Mulkey: pic.twitter.com/vIkici06aH
— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) August 24, 2026
“Kate came to see me on Sunday and told me that after much consideration, she will be leaving the program for personal reasons,” a statement from Mulkey read. “We will respect her privacy on her decision, but we had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her. 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.”
This was always the likely outcome the second Mulkey decided to add Minaeva. If the legendary head coach didn’t realize that, then she’s truly naive.
Meanwhile, Koval is now stuck in limbo with the transfer portal closed. She’ll either need to miss the entire season or somehow receive a temporary injunction to enter the portal.
Although with the way judges have happily handed out those injunctions of late, you’d think this specific case would easily apply.
The 6-foot-5 junior averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season across 35 appearances. She’ll likely have no shortage of suitors should she find her way into the portal ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.