Baylor announced Saturday that Kate Koval, a 6-foot-5 former LSU center, will join the team after receiving an NCAA transfer waiver. Coach Nicki Collen said Koval can help near the basket on both ends of the court and contribute as a scorer, passer and shot blocker. Baylor is coming off a 25-9 season with senior guard Taliah Scott as its only returning starter.
Scott averaged 19.7 points last season.
Koval left LSU after the April deadline to enter the transfer portal. She said the decision followed LSU’s signing of 17-year-old Russian post player Anna Minaeva. Koval was born and raised in Ukraine, and she said her father is a drone operator in the Ukrainian military.
She also said Russian attacks have killed or wounded people close to her. Koval had expected to stay at LSU, but said she was uncomfortable with coach Kim Mulkey’s suggestion that she and Minaeva could represent their respective countries.
Koval spent her freshman year at Notre Dame and made the ACC All-Freshman Team before joining LSU for 2025-26. She started 17 of 35 games for the Tigers, averaging 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks while making 56% of her shots. She had been projected to start at center this season.
