Kim Mulkey opened LSU’s Monday practice by addressing the frontcourt hole nobody really needed to ask about. Kate Koval, the Tigers’ expected starting center just a month ago, was already in Waco.

Former LSU women's basketball forward Kate Koval has revealed her transfer portal decision. She'll head to the Big 12.

In the span of a few months, Kate Koval has gone from being a starting center at LSU to being an ineligible free agent, to now being a player with another major team. Just four days after being given official permission by the NCAA, the estranged Kate Koval has now signed with the Baylor Women’s Basketball team.

After receiving a transfer waiver from the NCAA last week, Kate Koval found her landing spot. The 6-foot-5 center will play for Baylor, the program announced Saturday. A Baylor spokesperson said the program is optimistic she’ll be eligible for the season opener. The Kyiv, Ukraine, native left LSU after the program signed Anna Minaeva, a Russian player who had played professionally in Moscow. Koval, whose father serves in the Ukrainian military, later announced her intention to leave LSU, but the

Ukrainian Kate Koval, who left LSU after it signed a Russian player, will sign with Kim Mulkey's former team, Baylor, for the upcoming season.

Koval was granted a legislative relief waver by the NCAA to transfer after LSU announced her departure on Aug. 25.

A former LSU women's basketball player was allowed to enter the transfer portal and search for a school to play at during the 2026-27 season.

There is a fresh twist in the Kate Koval situation as the NCAA this week granted her special permission. Koval was the starting center for LSU’s women’s basketball team and had left Kim Mulkey’s program after the team signed a Russian player, but she is now eligible to play this season after receiving a waiver from the NCAA.

Koval, born and raised in Ukraine, told LSU head coach Kim Mulkey she was leaving the program after a Russian player was added to the roster.