Baylor announced Saturday that Kate Koval will join the program after the NCAA approved a transfer waiver for the Ukrainian center. Koval left LSU after the April deadline for entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Koval said she made the decision because LSU signed 17-year-old Russian post player Anna Minaeva. Koval was born and raised in Ukraine, and she said her father serves as a drone operator in the Ukrainian military. She also said people close to her have been killed or hurt in Russian attacks.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey, a former Baylor coach, had told Koval the two players could represent their countries before the staff began recruiting Minaeva, according to the report. Koval said she was not comfortable with that arrangement.
Koval played her freshman year at Notre Dame and made the ACC All-Freshman Team. She then played the 2025-26 season at LSU, appearing in 35 games and starting 17. She averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, while making 56% of her shots, and had been projected to start at center.
Baylor coach Nicki Collen said Koval’s 6-foot-5 size can help near the basket on offense and defense, including as a scorer, passer and shot blocker. Baylor finished 25-9 and returns one starter, senior guard Taliah Scott, who averaged 19.7 points last season. Koval also played for Ukraine at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Cup, where the team made the quarterfinals.
