Ukrainian Women’s Basketball Player Leaves LSU Just Days After Team Signed Russian Player

Gerald Herbert/AP

A Ukrainian women’s college basketball player suddenly left LSU just days after the team signed another player from Russia.

In a statement posted on social media, LSU coach Kim Mulkey commented on the departure of center Kate Koval, saying:

Kate came to see me on Sunday and told me that after much consideration, she will be leaving the program for personal reasons. We will respect her privacy on her decision, but we had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her. I know it is hard because she loves LSU. Kate is a great person. She has to do what she feels is right for her, and we fully support her in that. We all wish her the best.

Earlier this month, LSU signed 17-year-old center Anna Minaeva. She previously played professionally in Russia, her home country.

According to a report from New Orleans outlet The Advocate, Mulkey actually spoke to Koval about the team signing Minaeva. Mulkey’s hope was that the two could be “ambassadors” for the world as their countries wage war with one another. The report added:

“I want you to understand I’m not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia,” Mulkey said, recalling her conversation with Koval. “I’m just here out of respect for your family and out of respect for you to let you know. Because I know how personal it is for you.

“Know that what I have to do in this business, I cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conflict between two countries.”

Complicating matters even further was the fact that Koval’s father was actually fighting in the war as a drone operator, according to the report.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the conflict has led to numerous confrontations in the sports world as the war has dragged on.

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