Kate Koval, a Ukrainian-born former LSU women’s basketball forward, says she “breaks silence” on her departure from the program and confirms she left the team after LSU added a Russian player. She links her decision to the timing and circumstances surrounding LSU’s roster move.
Both outlets report that Koval learned about the addition after the transfer portal deadline had passed, and that Kim Mulkey was the coach who made the move that changed Koval’s situation. Koval, who has ties to Ukraine, characterizes the Russian-player signing as the factor behind her departure. The reports describe her explanation as centered on how the roster decision affected her options to transfer.
While both sources align on the core claim—that Koval left LSU because of LSU’s decision to sign a Russian player—each outlet frames the story slightly differently, with one focusing on her decision to speak out and the other emphasizing her explanation for why she left the roster.
