Baylor সাপ্তাহিক Kate Koval, ucranian centre, signed, weeks after she left LSU over Kim Mulkey's recruitment of a Russian player. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Koval cited the war's personal toll — including family killed and childhood courts destroyed — as reason for her departure. She received an NCAA legislative relief waiver to transfer outside the normal window.

Bears coach Nicki Collen praised Koval's elite rim protection and scoring, calling her "an elite student with a big heart." The 6-foot-5 center averaged 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks last season for LSU after transferring from Notre Dame, where she posted 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 2024-25. Koval now joins the program Mulkey built into a powerhouse before leaving for LSU.