Kate Koval, LSU star from Ukraine, leaves team after Kim Mulkey signs Russian player

The LSU Tigers are losing Ukrainian forward Kate Koval after head coach Kim Mulkey put the college basketball star in an uncomfortable position.

Koval is a former McDonald’s All American and boasts an impressive college resume thus far. However, her time in Baton Rouge is over after a precarious situation transpired with the Tigers bringing in Russian player Anna Minaeva.

The 20-year-old Ukrainian’s father currently serves in her country’s army amidst the war with Russia. Meanwhile, Mulkey and LSU are downplaying the situation after calling it a “hard decision” for Koval.

“We had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her,” Mulkey said in an LSU statement. “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.”

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LSU loses Ukraine star after signing Russian player

Koval is entering her third women’s college basketball season in 2026-27 after spending time with Notre Dame and LSU. However, she’s now preparing to find a new program before the new campaign after this latest development.

The Kyiv native cannot be in an easy position considering her family’s close ties to the war. Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict since 2022, and there’s currently no signs of the war ending in the near future.

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Meanwhile, Mulkey spoke with The New Orleans Advocate upon Minaeva joining the program in August. The longtime LSU coach hoped for a civil resolution between the two basketball players, but that doesn’t seem to be the outcome.

“I want you to understand I’m not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia,” Mulkey recalled saying to 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.”

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