Ukraine’s Kate Koval transfers to Baylor following LSU exit after Tigers signed Russian player

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.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Kate to Baylor,” Bears coach Nicki Collen said in a statement. “She has played at an elite level over the last two seasons and has shown the consistent ability to score around the rim and protect the rim. Kate, at 6-foot-5, can be a decision maker on the perimeter both as a scorer and facilitator, which will expand our offense. Her shot-blocking ability will help anchor our defense. She is an elite student with a big heart for others, and our fans will love her on and off the court.”

Koval had posted on social media last week about her decision to leave LSU, saying that her father serves in the Ukrainian military and “takes tremendous pride in defending his country against Russian aggression.”

“For me, this war is not distant or abstract,” Koval wrote. “People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business