LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey said Monday that Kate Koval is leaving the Tigers’ program for personal reasons, with the decision coming after a Sunday meeting between the two.
Mulkey said Koval brought the news to her and asked for privacy. “Kate came to see me on Sunday and told me that after much consideration, she will be leaving the program for personal reasons,” Mulkey said in a statement. “We will respect her privacy on her decision, but we had a long talk about it, and it was a hard decision for her.
“I know it is hard because she loves LSU. Kate is a great person.
She has to do what she feels is right for her, and we fully support her in that. We all wish her the best.”
Koval arrived at LSU after starting her college career at Notre Dame. The 6-foot-5 post player was one of the country’s top recruits out of Long Island Lutheran High School in New York and earned McDonald’s All-American honors.
During her freshman season at Notre Dame in 2024-25, Koval played in 32 games and started 27 times. She averaged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field.
Her transfer to LSU gave Mulkey another interior option, but Koval’s departure now takes a piece out of the Tigers’ frontcourt plans as they look ahead to the 2026-27 season.
Mulkey did not offer any further details about Koval’s decision, and LSU has asked that her privacy be respected.
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