Baylor’s roster now has two 6-foot-5 players after the school added center Kate Koval, who received an NCAA waiver to transfer from LSU outside the regular portal period. Baylor announced the move Saturday, though a team spokesperson said it was unclear whether Koval could play immediately because classes began in late August.
Koval, who is from Kyiv, Ukraine, left LSU after the school added Anna Minaeva, a Russian player with professional experience in Moscow. Koval said her father is serving in the Ukrainian military.
After the transfer portal closed, she publicly sought NCAA approval, writing on social media, “People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and first began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes.” NCAA rules permit such a transfer when an urgent circumstance outside an athlete’s control requires an immediate departure and is unrelated to athletic opportunities or participation at the current school.
Koval joins coach Nicki Collen’s Baylor team as she begins her sixth season in Waco. The Bears finished 25-9 last season, retained most of their players from the transfer portal, graduated four starters, signed three transfers and had no freshman recruit in the incoming class.
Koval is expected to play with Taliah Scott, who led Baylor at 20 points per game last season, and Marcayla Johnson, who had a strong freshman season. Lorena Awou, a January transfer from NC State, is the other 6-foot-5 player. Collen said Koval’s perimeter scoring and passing could expand the offense, while her defense could improve interior protection.
