Kate Koval is officially in search of her next school. The former LSU women's basketball forward entered the transfer portal after the NCAA issued her a legislative relief waiver, according to multiple reports on Thursday. She will immediately be eligible to play during the 2026-27 season.
Koval abruptly left the Tigers in August. She said her departure followed head coach Kim Mulkey signing 17-year-old Russian forward Anna Minaeva. Koval hails from Ukraine, where her father serves in the military. She asked the NCAA to grant her an exception, which would clear her to play this year.
After her first year with LSU, Koval was expected to take on the starting five spot as a junior during the 2026-27 season. According to her statement, she had no intention of leaving LSU but learned the purple and gold signed Minaeva in April after the transfer portal closed.
Former LSU center Kate Koval is officially in the transfer portal and will be immediately eligible to compete after being granted a waiver, a source confirmed to The Athletic.Koval transferred to LSU ahead of the 2025-26 season after spending her freshman year with Notre Dame. While donning the purple and gold, she played in every game, with 17 starts and averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.
Koval, born and raised in Ukraine, said she was departing LSU due to the Tigers’ signing of Russian… — The Athletic (@TheAthletic)
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