UConn’s non-conference slate just got a little less daunting, but the reason has nothing to do with the Huskies themselves.
LSU, one of the nation’s premier women’s basketball programs under Kim Mulkey, is dealing with a major roster hit after sophomore Kate Koval left the team just one day before the start of academic classes. Koval, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Notre Dame, had been a key piece for the Tigers last season, appearing in 35 games, starting 17 times and averaging 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. She was expected to be a significant part of LSU’s roster again as a junior.
Instead, her departure comes after Mulkey signed a Russian recruit, and Koval made clear on social media that the decision was tied to the war in Ukraine.
“For me, this war is not distant or abstract. 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," she said on social media.
Koval also said her father serves in the Ukrainian military and added that the decision was not easy. She is now seeking permission to play at another school this year.
For UConn, the timing matters. The Huskies are scheduled to face LSU on Dec. 20, and the Tigers are now a little less formidable without Koval in the mix. That said, the circumstances behind the roster change are obviously far bigger than any matchup edge.
LSU still brings plenty of weight as a program. The Tigers went 29-6 overall and 12-4 in SEC play last season, then fell to No.
3 Duke in the Sweet 16. They’ve reached 31 NCAA Tournaments and six Final Fours, and won the national title in 2023 with Angel Reese as the centerpiece.
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UConn Just Turned Its Duke Schedule Reveal Into A Taunt
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The schedule release doubled as a reminder that this isnt just another big-name date on the calendar. Duke is still the measuring-stick opponent in these kinds of announcements, and UConn made sure that last meeting still loomed large as the teams head toward another showdown next season. There is already a fresh chapter coming, and after the way the Huskies framed the rivalry, it is fair to expect the buildup to be part celebration, part needling, and all business by the time the game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
UConns 2023-24 Team Just Earned Rare All-Time Praise
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The Huskies went 35-3, swept the Big East regular season and tournament titles, landed the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and then rolled through March to the national championship. Coaches also kept other modern powers in the conversation, including Dukes 2000-01 team, Michigans 2022-23 squad and Villanovas 2017-18 group, but UConns latest title team clearly left the strongest impression. It is rare for a roster to enter the all-time debate so quickly, and even in Storrs, that kind of praise is usually reserved for the very best of the best. [Read more 🡒]
UConns Brutal Early Schedule Just Got A Lot Clearer
UConns path through the 2026-27 non-conference slate is now fully mapped out, and it looks every bit as demanding as expected. The Huskies will see a heavyweight collection of opponents that includes Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, Duke, Ohio State, Virginia and Kansas, a run of games that should leave little doubt about the level of competition Dan Hurleys team is choosing to embrace before Big East play begins.
The schedule is now rounded out with additional home dates against Wagner, Mississippi Valley State and Delaware State, giving the Huskies the kind of balance that typically accompanies a national-title contenders calendar. UConn also has a notable preseason tune-up slate in place, with exhibitions against Syracuse, Michigan State and Purdue offering an early barometer for how ready the group will be when the real pressure starts to build. [Read more 🡒]