2026 CSC Academic All-District Selection
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 that made a significant impact on the LSU team … Enters her second season with the Tigers and her third in collegiate women’s basketball … Has played in 67 games through two seasons with 27 starts (10 at Notre Dame, 17 at LSU) … Through two seasons, she has averaged 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2025-26 at LSU)
Added a presence in the post for LSU down low on the defensive side of the ball … Played all 35 games with 17 starts, averaging 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game … Was second among LSU players in blocks with 43 tallied throughout the season and ranked 10th nationally among shot blockers … Academically holds a 3.5 GPA and earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-District list … Eclipsed her career high in points (23 vs. Alabama State), free throws made (7 vs. Alcorn State and Alabama State), free throw attempts (9 vs. Alcorn State and Alabama State), FG attempts (15 vs. Alabama State), and steals (5 vs. Morgan State) … Despite playing more minutes in her freshman season, Koval got to the free throw line at a significantly higher rate, making 76-of-101 in her sophomore season (made 23-of-33 in her first season) … She finished the season with 14 games scoring double digits, including two contests of 20-plus points and four 15-plus point outings … Recorded seven double-doubles in her sophomore season bringing her career total to nine … Tallied back-to-back double doubles against Georgia Southern and Charlotte and again versus Alcorn State and Marist
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
Points 23 vs Alabama St. 12/28/25
Rebounds 19 at Lafayette 11/17/24
Assists 4 at Purdue 11/10/24, at Lafayette 11/17/24
Steals 5 vs Morgan St. 12/16/25
Blocks 7 at Lafayette 11/17/24
FG Made 9 vs Mercyhurst 11/04/24, at New Orleans 12/07/25
FG Attempts 15 vs Alabama St. 12/28/25
FT Made 7 vs Alcorn 11/20/25, vs Alabama St. 12/28/25
FT Attempts 9 vs Alcorn 11/20/25, vs Alabama St. 12/28/25