She is the daughter of Vadim Pankov and Marina Pankova (née Nikulina). Her family has a tradition in volleyball, her father is the current coach of Zarechie Odintsovo and her mother played in three Olympic Games (gold in Seoul 1988, silver in Barcelona 1992 and fourth in Atlanta 1996), and was world champion at the 1990 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship. Her younger brother Pavel Pankov is also a volleyball player.