Kate Koval is joining Baylor after the NCAA approved a transfer waiver for the 6-foot-5 center from Ukraine. Baylor announced her commitment Saturday, following Koval’s departure from LSU after the April deadline for entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Koval said she left LSU after the program signed 17-year-old Russian post player Anna Minaeva. Koval was born and raised in Ukraine, and said her father is a drone operator in the Ukrainian military. She also said people close to her have been killed or injured in Russian attacks.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey, a former Baylor coach, had told Koval before LSU recruited Minaeva that the two could represent their countries. Koval later said she was not comfortable with that plan.
Koval spent her freshman year at Notre Dame and was selected to the ACC All-Freshman Team. During the 2025-26 season at LSU, she appeared in 35 games and was in the starting lineup 17 times. She produced 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, with a 56% field-goal rate.
Baylor coach Nicki Collen said Koval can help as a scorer, passer and shot blocker, while adding size near the basket on both ends. 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 made the quarterfinals.
