Kim Mulkey scores huge transfer portal win for LSU at Notre Dame’s expense
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey has just pulled off another signature move, and this time, it came at the expense of one of women’s basketball’s most storied programs.
The Tigers landed a commitment from Notre Dame transfer Kate Koval, a major pickup that adds both talent and upside to the LSU frontcourt — and throws another spotlight on Mulkey’s mastery of the transfer portal. Koval, a 6-foot-5 forward and former five-star recruit, was the No. 5 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class. Now, she’s Baton Rouge-bound after one season in South Bend.
The Tigers didn’t waste time after Koval entered the portal, moving quickly to bring in a player whose combination of size, skill, and potential can help LSU return to the national title conversation — or at least make sure the Tigers stay in it.
Koval played in 32 games with 10 starts and averaged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and an impressive 1.7 blocks per contest, ranking as the fifth most in program history by a freshman. Her length and timing made her an interior anchor on defense, and the offensive skillset is ripe for continued growth under Mulkey’s tutelage.
LSU continues to be a magnet for elite talent, especially from the portal, where Mulkey’s team has thrived in recent years. From Angel Reese to Hailey Van Lith and now Koval, the Tigers have become the ultimate landing spot for stars looking for a fresh start — and a coach who knows how to win.
Mulkey took to social media just minutes after the news broke to express her excitement for adding the former Fighting Irish center.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame finds itself navigating an unexpectedly turbulent offseason. Koval isn’t the only departure — Olivia Miles, Emma Risch, and Kylee Watson have also entered the portal, putting head coach Niele Ivey in a tough spot. The Irish still have young talent, but losing Koval, especially to another powerhouse like LSU, has to sting. She was supposed to be a building block for the future; now she’s part of someone else’s blueprint.
Mulkey saw an opportunity to reload and retool her roster after losing center Sa’Myah Smith to the transfer portal and went after one of the most promising bigs in the country, adding a rim protector with SEC size and experience. Koval may not have dominated as a freshman, but the tools are there — and Mulkey rarely misses when it comes to development.
