Done deal: Caitlin Clark announced the departure of….
The Iowa women’s basketball team is dreading star guard Caitlin Clark’s impending departure to the WNBA. Landing five-star recruit Addie Deal this week, however, certainly softens the blow.
On Tuesday, Deal announced she’d committed to Iowa. The Mater Dei High School prospect is ranked No. 12 overall in the 2025 class and first overall from California, according to ESPN. She becomes the highest-rated recruit to join the Hawkeyes since Clark (No. 4 overall) in 2020.
The Hawkeyes have had their eye on Deal for quite some time, actively recruiting her over the last several years. The 6-foot guard last visited the campus on March 3 for Iowa’s Senior Day, where she watched Clark and Co. defeat then-No. 2 Ohio State, 93-83.
They had us there at 9 in the morning for [College GameDay]. It was amazing,” Deal told The Gazette of her visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “It was loud the whole time. It was amazing to see in person.”
Deal officially committed to Iowa the same day but didn’t publicly divulge her decision until nine days later.
During her sophomore high school season, Deal averaged 15 points — a team-high — 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. She suffered a season-ending ankle injury her junior year but is expected to be fully healthy by the start of club season in the summer.
