Left her team because of a Russian player: "My father is fighting in the Ukrainian army"

Kate Koval, the Ukrainian basketball player for LSU, revealed that she decided to leave the university following the addition of Russian player Anna Minaeva to the roster. Initially, it was reported that the 20-year-old left after one season for "personal reasons," but she has now explained that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine was at the center of her decision.

"My father is serving in the Ukrainian army and is very proud to defend his country against Russian aggression. For me, this war is not something distant or abstract. People close to me have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and places where I grew up and where I started playing basketball have been destroyed in missile strikes." — Koval wrote on Instagram.

Koval added:

"The timing of this situation and the profound personal impact it had on me, my family, and the people dear to us who continue to live within the war and fight in it, ultimately made me ask myself if LSU is still the right place for me. This was not an easy decision. I understand and respect the fact that roster decisions are part of college basketball, but I must remain true to myself, my values, and my country."

The Ukrainian center, who was supposed to start for LSU in the upcoming season, has two years of eligibility remaining to play in college. The transfer window has already closed, but Koval hopes that the NCAA will recognize the exceptional circumstances and allow her to join another university as early as the upcoming season.

Despite the departure, Koval emphasized that she remains grateful to LSU: "I felt that I found a home there. I am grateful to my teammates, who became family, as well as the coaches, staff, professors, and the entire LSU community. I will always carry with me the relationships, experiences, and memories I created there."