Ukrainian quits college team over Russian signing
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.
In short
- Kate Koval quit LSU basketball over signing of Russian player Anna Minaeva
- She cited family impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
- Hopes NCAA lets her transfer despite portal deadline passing
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Koval’s choice to leave is understandable as a matter of conscience: Russia’s invasion has caused direct harm to her family, friends and homeland, and playing alongside a Russian recruit may feel impossible to reconcile with those losses. Allowing her to transfer despite the closed portal could recognise the exceptional personal circumstances and give her a chance to continue her education and career.
The case against
LSU may reasonably view signing Minaeva as a decision about an individual athlete’s opportunity, rather than an endorsement of Russia’s government or invasion. Universities also have an interest in applying transfer rules consistently, and granting an exception after the deadline could raise fairness concerns for other players who followed the process or were unable to transfer.
Explained simply
LSU, Louisiana State University, is a US college with a women’s basketball team that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). College players can usually move between universities through a transfer system, but there are rules about when they can do so.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the fighting has affected Ukrainian civilians and military families. Koval has said the invasion has harmed people close to her and destroyed places important to her life; her father serves in Ukraine’s military.
Minaeva is a Russian basketball player newly signed by LSU, while Koval is a Ukrainian centre who had been expected to start for the team. Koval’s wish to join another university this season depends on whether the NCAA allows an exception to its transfer rules.