#13 Kate Koval Season 2025-26
2025 ACC Regular Season Co-Champion
2024-25 All-ACC Freshman Team
2024-25 USBWA National Freshman of the Week (Nov. 19)
2024-25 ACC Co-Rookie of the Week (Nov. 18)
2024-25 ACC Newcomer Watch List
A 6-5 forward that possesses the skill, physicality, and passion to make an immediate impact on the Tigers’ program … Enters her first season at LSU and second season in collegiate women’s basketball … Has played in 32 games and started in 10 … Through one season, she has averaged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game … Transfer from Notre Dame
FRESHMAN SEASON (2024-25 at Notre Dame)
Made an immediate impact in her debut season at Notre Dame … Played in 32 games and started in 10, averaging 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and an impressive 1.7 blocks per game … Her blocks per game ranked fifth among freshmen in Notre Dame history … Finished her freshman year with a total of 55 blocks, the fourth most by a Fighting Irish freshman … Her standout defensive performances included a 4-block game against Stephen F. Austin in the NCAA Tournament, making her the only Notre Dame freshman in the last 25 years to record that many blocks in a NCAA Tournament game … Throughout the season, she delivered multiple highlights, including her first career double-double with 10 rebounds and 8 points at Purdue (11/10/24), and a game with seven blocks at Lafayette (11/17/24) … Her early season burst was remarkable: in the first three games, she totaled 40 points, 33 rebounds, 8 assists, and 15 blocks—the last freshman (male or female) in Division I to hit those numbers in just three games since Kentucky’s Anthony Davis … She also scored 18 points on 9-11 shooting in her collegiate debut against Mercyhurst, adding 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 blocks … She became the first Irish player since 2007 to record five blocks in a season opener … Other notable performances include 12 points and 7 rebounds against Virginia; 14 points and 16 rebounds against JMU; and her game against Lafayette where she posted 11 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocks—her seven blocks matching the highest by an Irish player since 2017 … Her versatile game and defensive prowess made her a key contributor from the start
HIGH SCHOOL
A top-ranked recruit in the 2024 class, she was rated No. 5 overall and the No. 1 post player by ESPN HoopGurlz … Earned national honors as a 2024 McDonald’s All-American, SLAM All-American, and was selected for the Jordan Brand Classic … She also competed in the Nike Hoop Summit and helped Ukraine’s U18 and U16 European teams win medals
PERSONAL
Coming from Ukraine in 2021, she quickly established herself as a rising star in women’s basketball … Has two brothers—her older brother was a swimmer, and her younger brother plays ice hockey … Planned major heading into her first season at Notre Dame was pre-professional studies.
Kate Koval’s Career Highs (at Notre Dame)
Points: 18, vs. Mercyhurst 11/04/24
Rebounds: 19, at Lafayette 11/17/24
Assists: 4, 2x; most recent at Lafayette 11/17/24
Steals: 3, vs. SFA 03/21/25
Blocks: 7, at Lafayette 11/17/24
FG Made: 9, vs. Mercyhurst 11/04/24
FG Attempts: 12, at Lafayette 11/17/24
FT Made: 4, 2x; most recent at Purdue 11/10/24
FT Attempts: 6, vs. James Madison 11/13/24