Five-star center Kate Koval officially signs with Notre Dame women’s basketball
Notre Dame has recruited and signed a plethora of highly-ranked players since Niele Ivey took over as head coach prior to the 2020-21 season. Just look at what Hannah Hidalgo has done in her first two games with the Fighting Irish. Let’s also not forget Olivia Miles was turning just as many heads as a young point guard herself until a major knee injury set her back this past spring.
Tuesday’s signee has the potential to change everything for Ivey, though.
Guard play in college basketball is critical, yes, but post play is what can take a team over the top — especially on the women’s side. A dominant center is a paramount part to any program with serious aspirations to win national championships. Notre Dame might have its national title-caliber center in five-star Kate Koval, who officially signed her letter of intent today.
“She’s skilled, versatile and extremely competitive,” Ivey said. “Kate has the ability to dominate on the block but also step out and shoot from the perimeter. Her excellent passing and very high IQ and motor will complement our style of play and identity perfectly. The impact she will make on our program will be immediate and massive.”
Koval is the No. 5 overall player in the class of 2024 according to ESPN. A native of Ukraine, Koval moved to the United States a couple years ago to focus on her budding basketball career. She has thrived at Long Island Lutheran in New York. She averaged 15.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.4 blocks in leading Long Island Lutheran to a 20-2 record in her junior season. She was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in New York.
Prior to dominating local teams in the Empire State, Koval averaged 26.0 points and 14.2 rebounds per game for Ukraine at the 2021 FIBA U16 Women’s European Challengers, which ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, among a talented collection of players at the esteemed tournament in .
According to Slam Magazine, Koval was deciding between basketball and ballet back in her native Ukraine. She obviously chose the former, a game she has grown to love. A game she was built for with the 6-4 frame she carries now.
Koval told Slam Magazine she models her game after the WNBA’s A’ja Wilson and the NBA’s Nikola Jokic. Those are undoubtedly two of the best big-bodied players in basketball in 2023. They’re the type of players opposing coaches have to specifically game plan against for dominance and overall offensive craftiness in the low post. That’s what Koval brings to South Bend.
Notre Dame has long had guards opposing coaches have to spend extra time scouting, but it’s been a bit since a post player seriously struck fear and kept them up at night. That period is coming to a close. When that door shuts, the national title window at Notre Dame flies right open.
“Kate is a force from the center position and is one of the most efficient centers in her class,” Ivey said.
