Baylor announced Saturday that it had signed Ukrainian center Kate Koval, several weeks after she left LSU following coach Kim Mulkey’s addition of a Russian player. Her transfer was enabled by an NCAA legislative relief waiver approved earlier in the week, according to a person who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press because the individual was not cleared to comment publicly.
Koval described her decision in a social media post last week. She said Russia’s war against Ukraine had affected people close to her, including those killed or wounded, and that missile strikes had damaged locations where she grew up and first played basketball.
Koval said those circumstances caused her to question whether LSU was right for her, while recognizing that roster choices are part of college basketball. She wrote that she needed to follow her values and stand with her country.
Koval, listed at 6 feet, 5 inches, will play for Baylor coach Nicki Collen. Collen said the center’s scoring inside, rebounding and shot blocking should help Baylor, while her perimeter play may expand the offense. Koval recorded 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for LSU last season.
She averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds at Notre Dame in 2024-25. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and the war between the countries has continued.