--- title: "Kateryna Koval Leaves LSU Over Russian Minaeva and Joins the Baylor Bears" description: "Ukrainian center Kateryna Koval left the LSU Tigers after the club signed Russian Anna Minaeva and officially transferred to the Baylor Bears, preserving two seasons of NCAA eligibility." date: 2026-09-14T16:02:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kateryna-koval-leaves-lsu-joins-baylor-bears-ncaa tags: [kateryna-koval, baylor-bears, ncaa, lsu-tigers, ukraine-basketball, wnba] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kateryna Koval Leaves LSU Over Russian Minaeva and Joins the Baylor Bears ![Ekaterina Kovali in an LSU uniform during a basketball game before her transfer to Baylor Bears](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/14/kateryna-koval-baylor-bears-ncaa/kateryna-koval-baylor-bears-ncaa-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Kateryna Koval left LSU over the signing of Russian Anna Minaeva and transferred to the Baylor Bears. - The NCAA granted the Ukrainian player special permission to transfer outside the transfer window so she would not miss a season. - Last season Koval averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game; she still has two seasons of NCAA eligibility before the WNBA draft. Prospective Ukrainian basketball player Kateryna Koval has officially decided on her new team. The 20-year-old center, whose father is currently serving in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has left the LSU Tigers and become a player for the Baylor Bears — the University of Baylor team. In doing so, one of the bright stars of U.S. college basketball will remain in the world's strongest collegiate league and continue her career in the United States, avoiding a break in the season. ### Reason for Leaving: Refusal to Play Alongside a Russian In early September 2026, Koval decided to part ways with the University of Louisiana team. The reason was the LSU Tigers' signing of Russian basketball player Anna Minaeva. For Kateryna, the war is a personal tragedy, and her hometowns have been devastated by Russian missiles, so she refused to take the court alongside a Russian. This decision, in essence, put her sports career at risk; however, the basketball player chose a principled stance. ### Special NCAA Permission Given the special circumstances, the NCAA administration granted the Ukrainian player special permission to transfer outside the standard transfer window. Thanks to this, Koval was able to avoid missing a season and immediately begin competing for her new club. This mechanism was key, allowing her to maintain her game rhythm and student academic status. ### Reaction from the New Club Baylor Bears head coach Nikki Colleen enthusiastically commented on the Ukrainian center's joining. "We are incredibly excited to welcome Kate to Baylor. Over the past two seasons, she has played at an elite level and consistently demonstrated the ability to score near the rim and defend the basket. She is an excellent student with a big heart, and our fans will love her both on the court and off it," Colleen stated. Koval's new club is a three-time NCAA champion, last winning the title in 2019. ### Career and Statistics Kateryna Koval moved to the United States in 2021. She began her NCAA career with the University of Notre Dame, after which she transferred to the LSU Tigers. Last season with the Louisiana team, the Ukrainian played in 35 games, averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Under league rules, the 20-year-old basketball player is eligible to compete at the collegiate level for two more seasons, after which she can declare for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft. ### National Team and the Future Koval has represented Ukraine's youth national teams since the age of 12, and in the summer of 2025 she made her debut for the senior 3x3 basketball national team. Her move to the Baylor Bears is seen as a continuation of steady growth: the Ukrainian maintains an elite level of play, strengthens her position in the NCAA, and moves closer to her goal — competing in the WNBA. The story of her transfer has become not only a sports event but also a symbolic gesture, underscoring the athlete's personal stance against the backdrop of the war. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Ukrainian basketball player finds a new team in the U.S. after a loud scandal involving a Russian](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/basketball/ukrayinska-basketbolistka-znayshla-novu-komandu-1789401530.html) - Основной источник: переход Коваль в Baylor, причина ухода, разрешение NCAA, цитата тренера, статистика. - [Ukrainian star refuses to play for an American club over a Russian, risking her career](https://www.obozrevatel.com/sport-oboz/ukrainskaya-zvezda-otkazalas-igrat-za-amerikanskij-klub-iz-za-rossiyanki-risknuv-svoej-kareroj.htm) - Подтверждает мотив отказа и риск для карьеры. - [Ukrainian player leaves a U.S. team after the signing of a Russian basketball player](https://korrespondent.net/sport/basketball/4906220-ukraynka-pokydaet-komandu-ssha-posle-podpysanyia-rossyiskoi-basketbolystky) - Подтверждает хронологию ухода после подписания россиянки. - [How a U.S. club forced a Ukrainian star to leave over a Russian](https://www.rbc.ru/sport/25/08/2026/6a8c1d1e9a7947e246d610fc) - Подтверждает контекст давления и решение о переходе. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why did Kateryna Koval leave LSU? **A:** Because the LSU Tigers signed Russian basketball player Anna Minaeva, and Koval refused to play alongside her against the backdrop of the war and the destruction in her hometowns. ### Q: Which team did Koval transfer to? **A:** She became a player for the Baylor Bears — the University of Baylor team, a three-time NCAA champion. ### Q: How many more seasons can Koval play in the NCAA? **A:** Under league rules, she still has two seasons of collegiate eligibility, after which she can declare for the WNBA draft.