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Sports · Other Sports Updated 13 days ago 2 publishers reporting

Ukrainian center Kate Koval departs LSU women's basketball program shortly after Russian recruit Anna Minaeva joins

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News Brief

LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey announced that Ukrainian-born center Kate Koval is leaving the team for personal reasons, less than two weeks after the program added 17‑year‑old Russian forward Anna Minaeva. Mulkey said the decision was hard for Koval, who has family serving in Ukraine’s military, and emphasized the team’s respect for her privacy while expressing hope the two players could serve as symbols of peace.

Key points

  • Koval’s departure was announced by Mulkey as a personal decision, with the program pledging to respect her privacy.
  • The timing follows LSU’s signing of Russian freshman Anna Minaeva, a move Mulkey discussed with Koval beforehand.
  • Koval’s father serves in the Ukrainian military, and she previously transferred from Notre Dame, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds last season.
  • Mulkey said she hoped the Ukrainian and Russian players could act as ambassadors for sport and peace amid the ongoing Russia‑Ukraine conflict.

What sources agree on

  • Kate Koval left LSU women’s basketball for personal reasons, as stated by coach Kim Mulkey.
  • LSU signed Russian recruit Anna Minaeva shortly before Koval’s departure.
  • Koval’s father is involved in the Ukrainian military, serving as a drone operator.
  • Mulkey told Koval the team would respect her family’s situation and could not exclude a recruit because of geopolitical tensions.
  • Koval transferred from Notre Dame and averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in the previous season.
  • Mulkey expressed a hope that Koval and Minaeva could serve as ambassadors for peace.

Still unclear

  • No material disagreement was identified in the supplied reports.
Source & attribution

Who is reporting this?

Compare the original headlines, authors and publication times behind this brief.

2 independent reports
  1. 01
    CBS SportsNorth America
    Original headline

    Ukrainian player leaves LSU women's basketball team after Kim Mulkey's squad signs Russian recruit

    Author
    Isabel Gonzalez
    Published
    2026-08-25 17:13 UTC
    Read original
  2. 02
    The GuardianEurope
    Original headline

    Ukrainian star leaves LSU women’s basketball team after signing of Russian recruit

    Author
    Agencies and Guardian sport
    Published
    2026-08-25 15:39 UTC
    Read original
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