Koval announced she was stepping away from the program back in August, with LSU head coach Kim Mulkey citing "personal reasons" as the cause for her center leaving.On Wednesday, Koval released a statement on her official Instagram page, confirming suspicions that her choice to walk away from the Tigers stemmed from Mulkey acquiring 17-year-old Russian center Anna Minaeva."After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step away from the LSU Women’s Basketball program and withdraw from LSU," Koval's statement reads."At the conclusion of last season, I fully intended to return and continue my collegiate career at LSU.However, in April, several days after the transfer portal had closed, I was informed of the decision to sign a Russian player."RUSSIA UNLEASHES NEARLY 600 MISSILES AND DRONES ON KYIV IN DEADLIEST STRIKE SINCE MAYKate Koval No.
13 of the LSU Tigers warms up before a game against the Texas Tech Lady Raiders in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La.(Getty Images)Koval goes on to say that her father's service in the Ukrainian Army, along with the deaths and serious injuries of many of her friends and family members because of "Russian aggression," factored into her exit.Mulkey claimed she was only doing what was best for the basketball program when she decided to bring Minaeva into the fold and added that she "cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conflict between two countries."PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND MEDIA NEED TO STOP ACTING LIKE RUSSIAN ATHLETES ARE PUTIN PUPPETSTigers Head Coach Kim Mulkey, LSU Tigers take on Florida State in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Baton Rouge, L.A., Monday, March 24, 2025.
(SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)The LSU head coach reportedly believed she would be able to use Koval and Minaeva as "ambassadors" to h...