By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag News Services
Former LSU forward Kate Koval is signing with Baylor after leaving the LSU women’s basketball program before the start of classes, the Bears announced Saturday morning.
“We are beyond excited to welcome Kate to Baylor,” Baylor head coach Nicki Collen said in the team’s announcement. “She has played at an elite level over the last two seasons and has shown the consistent ability to score around the rim and protect the rim. Kate, at 6-5, can be a decision maker on the perimeter both as a scorer and facilitator, which will expand our offense. Her shot-blocking ability will help anchor our defense. She is an elite student with a big heart for others, and our fans will love her on and off the court.”
Koval was granted a legislative relief waiver by the NCAA to enter the transfer portal after her exit from Kim Mulkey’s squad. The Kyiv, Ukraine native left the program and withdrew from LSU after Mulkey signed Russian forward Anna Minaeva. Koval’s father serves in the Ukrainian military in its war against Russia and said she made the difficult decision to leave the program to stay true to herself, her family and her country.
The 6-foot-5 forward started 17 of her 35 games in her one season in Baton Rouge after transferring from Notre Dame. She averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 56% from the floor and was expected to start this season.
She joins a Baylor program coming off a 25-9 season, finishing third in the Big 12. The Bears earned a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament and fell to third-seeded Duke 69-46 in the round of 32. Mulkey, of course, served as the Baylor head coach for 21 seasons and won three national titles in 2005, 2012 and 2019.
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