The NCAA has approved an exception allowing 6-foot-5 center Kate Koval to continue her college basketball career at Baylor. Baylor announced the addition Saturday, but a team spokesperson said it was not yet known whether Koval could play immediately because classes began in late August.
Koval, who is from Kyiv, Ukraine, departed LSU after the school added Anna Minaeva, a Russian player who has professional experience in Moscow. Koval said her father serves in the Ukrainian military. In a social media appeal for the waiver, she wrote that Russian attacks had killed or injured people close to her and destroyed locations tied to her childhood and early basketball development.
NCAA rules permit an out-of-window transfer when an urgent circumstance outside an athlete’s control requires an immediate departure and is unrelated to athletic opportunities or participation at the current school.
Koval joins Baylor as coach Nicki Collen begins her sixth season in Waco. The Bears were 25-9 last season, retained most of their players from the transfer portal, graduated four starters, signed three transfers and had no freshman recruit in the incoming class.
Koval is expected to play with Taliah Scott, who led the team with 20 points per game last season, and Marcayla Johnson, who had a strong freshman season. She will be Baylor’s second 6-foot-5 player, alongside January transfer Lorena Awou of NC State. Collen said Koval’s perimeter scoring, passing and defense could expand the offense and improve interior protection.
