Kate Koval Finds New Home at Baylor After LSU Departure
Kate Koval, the Ukrainian-born center whose exit from LSU made headlines earlier this offseason, has officially committed and signed with Baylor, the program announced.
Koval’s departure from LSU came shortly after the Tigers signed Russian post player Anna Minaeva — a decision that drew attention given Koval’s father is reportedly serving in the war in Ukraine. LSU cited “personal reasons” for her exit at the time, though the timing made the circumstances difficult to ignore.
On the court, Koval had a productive sophomore season with the Tigers, appearing in all 35 games with 17 starts while averaging 16.6 minutes per game. She posted 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per contest, shooting an efficient 56% from the field. Those numbers represented career highs across the board — points, rebounds, steals, and field-goal percentage — a notable step up from her freshman season at Notre Dame, where she played fewer minutes.
Koval’s recruiting pedigree remains one of the most notable in recent classes. She entered college as the No. 1-ranked post player in the 2024 recruiting class and earned McDonald’s All-American honors that same year — a résumé that made her free agency this offseason one of the more significant portal storylines in the sport.
At 6-foot-5, Koval now joins a Baylor program looking to add frontcourt size and proven production as it continues building for the upcoming season, giving the Bears a player with legitimate Power Four starting experience and untapped upside after two seasons at two different high-major programs.
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