Ukrainian basketball player leaves NCAA team over Russian teammate

Ukrainian basketball player Kateryna Kovalenko had been set to start at center for Louisiana State University (LSU) this season in the NCAA. She has already played two NCAA seasons — first at Notre Dame, where she was named to the ACC All-Freshman team, and last season at LSU.

In late August it emerged that she had left the LSU team for "personal reasons" just before the season began. The decision came two weeks after Russian player Anna Minaeva joined the roster.

Kovalenko's explanation

Kovalenko later posted a statement on social media confirming she was not prepared to play on the same team as a representative of a country that has been waging war against Ukraine for years. She said her father serves in the Ukrainian army and is proud of his role in defending the country. The war, she wrote, is not distant or abstract to her — people close to her have been killed and wounded in Russian attacks, and the places where she grew up and began playing basketball have been destroyed by missile strikes.

She acknowledged the decision was not easy, but said the moment forced her to question whether LSU was still the right place for her. While recognizing that roster decisions are part of college basketball, she said she needed to stay true to herself, her values and her country.

Uncertain future

Since the NCAA transfer window has already closed, Kovalenko may theoretically be forced to sit out the entire upcoming season. Still, she expressed hope that NCAA officials will understand the reasons behind her decision and allow her to join another university's team.