Ukrainian basketball player Kate Koval has left Louisiana State University's team after it signed a Russian player, saying she could not reconcile the move with the impact of Russia's invasion on her family and homeland. The 20-year-old, who had been expected to start at centre for LSU this season, said the decision followed the arrival of new signing Anna Minaeva, though her departure had initially been described only as being for "personal reasons".

Koval, whose father serves in the Ukrainian military, said people close to her had been killed or wounded in Russian attacks and that places where she grew up and learned basketball had been destroyed by missile strikes. Having averaged 8.3 points per game last season and with two years of college eligibility left, she now hopes the NCAA will make an exception to let her join another university this year, despite the transfer portal having already closed.