LSU women's basketball made a splashy signing heading into the fall. Head coach Kim Mulkey and staff inked Anna Minaeva, a six-foot-five center from Russia, according to a release from the team on Friday. The 17-year-old landed in Baton Rouge this week and will join LSU for the 2026-27 season.
According to a report from 247Sports, Minaeva's move to LSU has been in the works for months. A unique visa situation kept her from arriving sooner, but the signing was imminent. Minaeva joins Kate Koval as the second player on LSU's current roster from outside the United States. She is the sixth international player under Mulkey at LSU, following Sarah Shematsi, Awa Trasi, Last-Tear Poa and Noa Morro.
Minaeva comes to LSU after playing with MBA Moscow, a professional women's basketball club in Russia. During the 2025-26 season, she averaged 11.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game across 29 contests in the Russia Premier League and the Russia Superleague.
Anna Minaeva is officially an LSU Tiger 🐅
— LSU Women's Basketball (@LSUwbkb) August 14, 2026
📄 https://t.co/jTVvS624UGpic.twitter.com/sM3rq6WLRO
At a young age, Minaeva already possesses a skill set with agile post moves and a knack for assisting teammates cutting through the paint. Her wingspan and athleticism make her a quality defender at all levels and a rim protector. She'll develop under Mulkey, who constantly sends forwards to the WNBA.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU women's basketball adds talented player from Russia