“I’m Not Here to Ask You to Change How You Feel About Russia”: Kim Mulkey’s Conversation With Ukraine’s Kate Koval Before Recruiting 6’5” Russian Center Revealed by LSU Insider

Mar 26, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; Louisiana State Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey speaks to the media during a press conference ahead of the Sacramento Regional 2 of the womenÕs 2026 NCAA tournament at Golden 1 Center. © Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Kim Mulkey is set to start her sixth season as the head coach of the LSU Tigers. In her second year with the team, she entered the LSU history when Angel Reese and the team won the first national championship for the first time in their history. They won the infamous 2023 final vs Iowa, which started Reese’s iconic rivalry with Caitlin Clark.

Flau’jae Johnson was the last player on the team last season from the NCAA title-winning squad. Mulkey now has a new set of players to lead and bring glory back to Louisiana.

LSU added some important pieces last season. One of the big names was Kate Koval, a Ukrainian international who transferred from Notre Dame for her sophomore year. Mulkey has now added a highly rated freshman, Anna Minaeva from Russia this season, whose recruitment clashed with Koval because of the political tension between the two countries. Mulkey recently shared her conversation with Koval that took place before Minaeva’s recruitment.

“I want you to understand I’m not here to ask you to change how you feel about Russia. I’m just here out of respect for your family and out of respect for you to let you know. Because I know how personal it is for you,” Mulkey recalled her conversation with Koval.

6-foot-5 Minaeva averaged 11.2 points and 9.6 rebounds in MBA Moscow in Russia.

Kim Mulkey comments about players from Ukraine and Russia

Despite political tensions, Mulkey has taken a bold step by recruiting a player from Russia while already having one player from Ukraine. When asked to comment about it, she made a confident statement about her recruitment strategy.

“I cannot make a decision to not recruit somebody that can help our program because of a conflict between two countries,” Mulkey said.

Apart from Kate Koval, LSU’s key returnees include Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley. Other sophomores include ZaKiyah Johnson, Grace Knox and Meghan Yarnevich.

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