Former LSU center Kate Koval has committed to Baylor after the NCAA approved a waiver allowing her to transfer, Baylor announced Saturday. The waiver came after Koval left LSU after the April deadline for entering the transfer portal had passed.
Koval chose to depart LSU after the program signed Russian post player Anna Minaeva, a decision she publicly explained Sept. 2. Koval was born and raised in Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, and her father serves as a drone operator in the Ukrainian military.
She said in a social media post that people close to her had been killed or injured in Russian attacks and that places where she grew up had been damaged by missile strikes.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey spoke with Koval while her staff was preparing to recruit Minaeva. According to the source, Mulkey suggested Koval and Minaeva could serve as representatives of their countries, but Koval remained uncomfortable with the situation and decided to leave.
Koval later wrote that the decision was difficult and that she was grateful for her LSU teammates, coaches, staff, professors and the wider university community.
Baylor coach Nicki Collen said Koval brings interior scoring, rebounding and rim protection, while also having the ability to contribute as a scorer and passer from the perimeter. At 6 feet 5 inches, Koval is expected to add size and shot-blocking to a Baylor team that finished 25-9 last season and lost four starters to graduation.
Senior guard Taliah Scott is the only returning starter and led the team with 19.7 points per game last season.
