Former LSU center Kate Koval has committed to Baylor after the NCAA approved a transfer waiver, the Baylor program announced Saturday. The waiver allows Koval to move despite her decision to leave LSU coming after the transfer portal deadline in April.
Koval initially cited personal reasons for leaving LSU, but she said Sept. 2 that the decision followed LSU’s signing of 17-year-old Russian post player Anna Minaeva. Koval was born and raised in Ukraine, and she said her father serves as a drone operator in the Ukrainian military.
She also said people close to her had been killed or injured in Russian attacks and that places where she grew up had been destroyed.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey spoke with Koval before her staff began recruiting Minaeva. Mulkey suggested the two players could serve as representatives of their countries, but Koval said she was not comfortable with that arrangement and chose to depart. She had originally planned to remain at LSU and expressed gratitude for her former teammates, coaches, professors and other members of the university community.
Baylor coach Nicki Collen said Koval’s ability to score and defend near the basket, make plays from the perimeter and block shots will add to the Bears’ lineup. Koval is listed at 6 feet 5 inches. Baylor is coming off a 25-9 season and lost four starters to graduation.
Senior guard Taliah Scott is the only returning starter after leading the team with 19.7 points per game last season.
