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LSU’s Kate Koval Leaves Program, Won’t Play This Season

8/26/2026

22 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Kate Koval leaves LSU basketball for personal reasons, announced by coach Kim Mulkey.
Mulkey said on August 24 the program will respect Koval’s privacy.
Koval, a Kyiv player from Notre Dame, averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds season.
She cannot play this season because the portal is closed, with possible re-entry in April.
LSU signed Anna Minaeva, Russian, on August 14, who could have become Ukrainian-Russian teammate Koval since 2022.

History

Historical Context

After the Soviet Union dissolved, athletes from the former Soviet republics competed together and won women’s basketball gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, which ran from July 25 to August 9. The same post-Cold-War split resurfaced in recent recruiting when LSU added Ukrainian forward Kate Koval and Russian center Anna Minaeva under Kim Mulkey, showing how lingering geopolitical divisions still shape NCAA rosters.

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Story summary

Kate Koval leaves LSU basketball for personal reasons, announced by coach Kim Mulkey.
Mulkey said on August 24 the program will respect Koval’s privacy.
Koval, a Kyiv player from Notre Dame, averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds season.
She cannot play this season because the portal is closed, with possible re-entry in April.
LSU signed Anna Minaeva, Russian, on August 14, who could have become Ukrainian-Russian teammate Koval since 2022.

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