WACO, Texas — Kate Koval signed with the Baylor Bears on Saturday, four days after the NCAA approved a legislative relief waiver that opened the transfer portal to the Ukrainian center outside its window. Bryan Fischer of Sports Illustrated first reported the commitment.
Koval left the LSU Tigers in August, 10 days after the program announced the signing of Russian post Anna Minaeva.
Kate Koval’s Waiver And Departure From LSU
Koval said she fully intended to return to LSU for the 2026-27 season, and that she learned of the Minaeva signing several days after the April 20 portal deadline had passed.
“My father serves in the Ukrainian military and takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression,” Koval said in a statement posted to Instagram on Sept. 2. “For me, this war is not distant or abstract. People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and first began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes.”
“The timing of this situation and the deeply personal effect it has had on me, my family, and those we care about who continue to live through and fight this war ultimately made me question whether LSU remained the right place for me,” Koval continued. “This decision has not been easy. While I understand and respect that roster decisions are a part of college basketball, I have to remain true to myself, my values and my country.”
LSU announced Minaeva’s signing on Aug. 14. Minaeva is 17, stands 6-5, and has played professionally for MBA Moscow. Koval’s father, Oleksandr, is a drone operator in the war Russia began in February 2022.
On Aug. 24, LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Koval had come to see her the previous day and told her she was leaving the program for personal reasons.
Mulkey said she told Koval she could not decline to recruit a player who could help the program because of a conflict between two countries, and that she raised the idea of the two players serving as ambassadors. Koval “just kind of smiled and said, ‘I doubt that,'” Mulkey told Nola.com.
Koval indicated her decision to transfer on Aug. 27. The NCAA approved her waiver on Sept. 8.
Nicki Collen’s Frontcourt And Baylor’s 2026-27 Big 12 Schedule
Baylor coach Nicki Collen said Koval’s shot-blocking will anchor a defense that led the Big 12 in blocks per game last season.
“We are beyond excited to welcome Kate to Baylor,” Collen said in the school’s announcement. “She has played at an elite level over the last two seasons and has shown the consistent ability to score around the rim and protect the rim. Kate, at 6-5, can be a decision-maker on the perimeter both as a scorer and facilitator, which will expand our offense. Her shot-blocking ability will help anchor our defense. She is an elite student with a big heart for others, and our fans will love her on and off the court.”
Across 35 games at LSU last season, 17 of them starts, Koval averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. She shot 56% from the field and made 76-of-101 free throws. Her 23 points against Alabama State on Dec. 28, 2025, were a career high. LSU reached the Sweet 16.
As a freshman with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2024-25, Koval played 32 games with 10 starts and averaged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. Her 55 blocks were the fourth-most by a Notre Dame freshman. She was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Koval has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Division I women’s basketball rosters are capped at 15 players. Out of Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, New York, she was a McDonald’s All-American and the No. 5 recruit in the 2024 class. This summer she played for Ukraine at the FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Cup, where the team reached the quarterfinals.
Baylor went 25-9 last season and 13-5 in the Big 12, finishing third in the conference. The Bears lost to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a first-round exit from the Big 12 Tournament. The 20-win season was the program’s 26th in a row. The NCAA Tournament berth was its 22nd straight.
Collen enters her sixth season in Waco with a record of 127-45. Mulkey coached Baylor from 2000 to 2021.
Baylor will play TCU, Texas Tech, and Kansas State twice apiece in 2026-27. The Bears travel to Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas, Houston, and UCF, and they host BYU, Utah, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia.
