Iowa women’s basketball lands 5-star guard from California

IOWA CITY — In the women’s basketball recruiting world, this is a very big Deal for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Addie Deal, the 12th-ranked prospect in the 2025 class according to ESPN, committed to the University of Iowa on Tuesday.

A 6-foot guard that plays at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei High School, Deal joins Journey Houston of Davenport North in the Hawkeyes’ 2025 class.

“I love Iowa,” she told The Gazette in a phone interview Tuesday night. “I love the coaching staff, and I love the culture. Their style of play suits me.”

A resident of Irvine, Calif., Deal picked Iowa over a group of finalists that consisted of Iowa State, Indiana, Ohio State, LSU, Arizona and Oregon.

Deal was among the recruits in attendance at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 3, when the Hawkeyes beat Ohio State.

“They had us there at 9 in the morning for (College GameDay). It was amazing,” she said. “It was loud the whole time. It was amazing to see in person.”

She committed that day, but didn’t go public with her decision until Tuesday, nine days later.

Deal suffered a season-ending ankle injury Dec. 21. She will be ready for club season in the summer.

As a sophomore, she averaged 15 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game.

Deal will be the fourth native Californian to play for the Hawkeyes, joining Lindsay Geoffroy (2001-04, Los Alamitos), Shannon Perry (1994-98, Carson) and Laura Shawver (1975-79, San Francisco).

“I love Iowa’s transition offense. I love their pace of play,” Deal said. “They’re so much fun to watch.”

As for Iowa winters ...

“I’ve lived in California since I was 2,” she said. “I don’t know about snow.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com