Ukrainian player leaves LSU women's basketball team after Kim Mulkey's squad signs Russian recruit

Kate Koval, whose father is a drone operator in the Ukrainian military, was expected to be LSU's starting center

Here's why LSU's Kate Koval chose to leave the Tigers program after a new player join the fold.

Center Kate Koval departs after one season with Tigers Anna Minaeva of Russia joined team earlier this month Kim Mulkey hoped two could be ‘ambassadors’ for peace Ukrainian center Kate Koval is leaving LSU less than two weeks after the Tigers brought in a player from Russia. LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Monday night th

Mulkey outlined her vision of Koval and Minaeva being “ambassadors” who could potentially help end the conflict by sharing the floor peacefully.

Kate Koval of Ukraine leaves LSU after Kim Mulkey signs Russian player  USA Today

Kyiv-born basketball player Kate Koval is leaving LSU less than two weeks after the Tigers signed 17-year-old Russian center Anna Minaeva, who previously played for a professional club in Moscow. LSU cited “personal reasons” for Koval’s departure, while neither side has publicly linked the move to Minaeva’s signing.

Kate Koval is from Kyiv, and her father is part of the Ukrainian military and has fought in the war against Russia.

Koval of Ukraine leaves LSU after Tigers sign Russian player  ESPN

Kate Koval of Ukraine leaves LSU following the Tigers’ signing of a Russian player  Toronto Star

At least 16 people have been killed and 130 more, including 23 children, wounded in a Russian “double-tap” strike on a shopping center in, Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine, authorities say. Kryvyi Rih is the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and has been targeted multiple times during the four-year-war. Uk