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League: NCAAMSport: College SportsCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

Center Kate Koval receives NCAA waiver to transfer from LSU

10 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 13, 2026, 8:24 AM

Last updated Sep 13, 2026

Center Kate Koval receives NCAA waiver to transfer from LSU
Summary

Former LSU center Kate Koval has received an NCAA waiver to enter the transfer portal and compete immediately. The organization grants such waivers for exigent events outside a student-athlete's control that necessitate an immediate departure from their current institution. Koval, a native of Ukraine whose father serves in the military, cited the LSU signing of Russian center Anna Minaeva as the reason for her exit. She previously played for Notre Dame before moving to LSU for her sophomore season. Because the standard transfer window has closed, Koval required the specific exemption to maintain her eligibility for the 2026-27 season. She holds at least two seasons of remaining eligibility.

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Status Watch
  • •Kate Koval received an NCAA waiver to transfer outside the standard window.
  • •The center left LSU citing the program's decision to sign Anna Minaeva.
  • •Koval previously played at Notre Dame before her time at LSU.
  • •She has two seasons of eligibility remaining in her collegiate career.
  • •The NCAA did not provide comment on the waiver decision.
Latest Updates
  • 8:24 AMYahoo Sports — Ukraine's Koval joins new team after Russia controversy
  • 8:24 AMBBC Sport — Ukraine's Koval joins new team after Russia controversy
  • 7:00 PMESPN — Baylor signs Ukrainian player who left LSU over Russian recruit
  • 6:36 PMYahoo Sports — Kate Koval transfers to Baylor after getting NCAA waiver to leave LSU
  • 5:34 PMYahoo Sports — Baylor lands Ukraine’s Kate Koval after LSU exit because Tigers brought in Russian player
  • 5:10 PMYahoo Sports — Kate Koval signs with Baylor after receiving NCAA waiver to transfer from LSU
  • 9:44 PMCBS Sports — NCAA grants Ukrainian Kate Koval transfer waiver following departure from LSU due to Russian teammate
  • 8:32 PMYahoo Sports — Former LSU center Kate Koval granted waiver by NCAA to enter transfer portal
What they're saying
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Former LSU center Kate Koval is officially in the transfer portal and will be immediately eligible to compete after being granted a waiver, a source confirmed to The Athletic. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the source was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation. Per NCAA rules, waivers to transfer outside of sport-specific transfer windows are granted only in an “exigent event outside the student-athlete’s control unrelated to athletics opportunities or parti

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Baylor signed Ukrainian center Kate Koval, the school announced Saturday, several weeks after she left LSU because Tigers coach Kim Mulkey brought in a Russian player. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the two countries have been at war since. Koval was allowed to enter the transfer portal outside of the normal window after she was granted a legislative relief waiver by the NCAA that was approved earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the situation.

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Ukrainian basketball player Kate Koval has been granted a transfer waiver to join Baylor University after leaving Lousiana State because they signed a Russian player.

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