Baylor announced Saturday that Kate Koval will join the team after the NCAA approved a transfer waiver for the Ukrainian center. Koval left LSU after the April deadline to enter the NCAA transfer portal, following the program's signing of 17-year-old Russian post player Anna Minaeva.
Koval said she was uncomfortable with the arrangement because she was born and raised in Ukraine. She said her father serves as a drone operator in the Ukrainian military and that people close to her have been killed or injured in Russian attacks. LSU coach Kim Mulkey, who previously coached at Baylor, had told Koval the players could represent their countries, according to the report.
The 6-foot-5 Koval played her freshman season at Notre Dame and made the ACC All-Freshman Team. During the 2025-26 season at LSU, she appeared in 35 games, started 17 and averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 56% from the field. She had been expected to start at center for LSU this season.
Baylor coach Nicki Collen said Koval can help as a scorer, passer and shot blocker, adding size near the basket on offense and defense. Baylor finished 25-9 last season and returns one starter, senior guard Taliah Scott, who averaged 19.7 points. Koval also played for Ukraine at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Cup, where the team reached the quarterfinals. CBS Sports reported the move.
