Ukrainian athlete Kate Koval has left the college basketball team at Louisiana State University (LSU) following the team's decision to sign a Russian player. After the arrival of Anna Minaeva, it was announced that 20-year-old Koval had departed for "personal reasons" after completing one season. Koval stated that Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine was the reason for her departure. In a post on Instagram, Koval shared that her father serves in the Ukrainian military and takes pride in defending his country against Russian aggression. She described the war as deeply personal, noting that people close to her have been killed or wounded in Russian attacks, and places where she grew up and began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes. She said the situation and its emotional impact on her and her family made her question whether LSU remained the right place for her. Koval, who was expected to be LSU's starting center this year, has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining. However, the transfer portal, which allows college athletes to move between schools, has closed. She expressed hope that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the organization that governs college sports in the United States, would recognize the unique circumstances of her situation and allow her to transfer to a different university for the upcoming season. Koval said she felt she had found a home at LSU and expressed gratitude for her teammates, coaches, and the broader LSU community, whom she described as family. She emphasized that she will always cherish the relationships, experiences, and memories she made at the university, even as she moves forward with her personal and athletic journey.