Ukrainian basketball player Kate Koval has left Louisiana State University’s (LSU) women’s basketball programme after the school signed Russian player Anna Minaeva, saying Russia’s war against Ukraine made the situation deeply personal for her and her family.

Koval, a 20-year-old centre from Kyiv, initially had her departure described by LSU head coach Kim Mulkey as being for “personal reasons.” However, Koval later explained in a statement posted on Instagram that she decided to leave after learning that LSU had recruited Minaeva, a 17-year-old Russian player who previously played professionally for MBA Moscow.

Koval said she had intended to return to LSU for the 2026–27 season but was informed in April, several days after the NCAA transfer portal had closed, that the programme planned to sign a Russian player.

She said the timing and circumstances of the decision made her question whether LSU remained the right place for her.

“My father serves in the Ukrainian military and takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression,” Koval said in her statement. She added that people close to her had been killed or wounded in Russian attacks and that places where she grew up and first played basketball had been damaged by missile strikes.

Koval acknowledged that roster decisions are part of college basketball but said the personal impact of the war made it impossible for her to treat the signing as an ordinary sporting decision.

She said she had to remain true to herself, her values and her country, while expressing gratitude to her LSU teammates, coaches, professors and the wider university community.

Koval also appealed to the NCAA to take the circumstances surrounding her departure into consideration and allow her to compete for another school during the 2026–27 season.

Her departure could create an eligibility challenge because the NCAA transfer portal window has already closed. Koval is hoping the governing body will grant her permission to transfer and play elsewhere this season.

Mulkey had previously said Koval approached her on August 23 and told her she was leaving the programme after careful consideration.

“We had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her,” Mulkey said, adding that LSU would respect Koval’s decision and support her.

Mulkey also acknowledged that she had spoken with Koval before Minaeva’s recruitment and understood how personally the issue affected the Ukrainian player because of her family’s connection to the war.

The coach maintained, however, that she could not reject a player who could strengthen her team solely because of a conflict between two countries. Mulkey said she hoped Koval and Minaeva could potentially serve as ambassadors for sport and peace.

Koval transferred to LSU from Notre Dame ahead of the 2025–26 season and became an important member of the Tigers’ team.

She played all 35 games last season, starting 17, and averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, along with 1.2 blocks in 16.6 minutes per game. She had been expected to play a major role for LSU in the upcoming season.

Minaeva, meanwhile, joined LSU after playing professionally in Russia with MBA Moscow. Her signing was announced on August 14, shortly before Koval’s departure became public.

The developments have drawn international attention to the way Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to affect sporting relationships, including those involving athletes from the two countries.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the two countries remain at war.