Caia Elisaldez, a 5-foot-5 point guard, joins Wisconsin's women's basketball team after a successful stint at Chattanooga. She brings experience and a strong assist/turnover ratio, aiming to enhance the team's performance.
Key points
Caia Elisaldez is a 5-foot-5 point guard.
She scored 1,099 points in 95 college games.
Elisaldez was the Southern Conference player of the year.
She helped Chattanooga win 68% of its games.
Elisaldez aims to enhance Wisconsin's women's basketball program.
The 5-foot-5 point guard has played 95 games and almost 2,900 minutes in college while scoring 1,099 points. She helped Chattanooga win 68% of its games the past three seasons and owns a positive assist/turnover ratio in the past two.
The Southern Conference player of the year was the final player Badgers womenâs basketball coach Robin Pingeton added for the upcoming season and perhaps the missing piece to a roster rebuild that lacked a veteran floor general.
How does Elisaldez think she can help the Badgers? UWâs latest addition spoke to the Journal Sentinel about a number of topics including her potential impact, her recruitment and the development of her game.
Here is what we learned.
Over her three seasons at Chatanooga, Caia Elisaldez improved her scoring, rebounding and assist averages each year as well as her assist/turnover ratio.
Over her three seasons at Chatanooga, Caia Elisaldez improved her scoring, rebounding and assist averages each year as well as her assist/turnover ratio.
Travel issues turn out to be blessing
The recruiting process is accelerated for players in the transfer portal. An official visit that typically lasts two days for a high school recruit is often done in one, so any delay can greatly alter plans.
That is why Elisaldez was especially concerned when her flight to Madison was delayed for about 2 1/2 hours. She thought it spoiled the plans the UW coaches made for her that evening.
Q&A
What are Caia Elisaldez's college basketball statistics?
Caia Elisaldez has played 95 games, logged nearly 2,900 minutes, and scored 1,099 points in her college career.
Why did Caia Elisaldez choose to transfer to Wisconsin?
Elisaldez was sold on Wisconsin due to its culture and genuineness, which resonated with her during the recruitment process.
What impact is Caia Elisaldez expected to have on the Wisconsin Badgers?
Elisaldez is expected to be a veteran floor general, potentially filling a crucial role in the team's roster rebuild.
What accolades did Caia Elisaldez achieve at Chattanooga?
She was named the Southern Conference player of the year and helped her team win 68% of its games over the past three seasons.
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It didnât.
The entire coaching staff welcomed her at the airport despite the hours-long delay. It was the start of an evening of dining and conversation that went past 11 at night. What she could do for the team and vice versa was not a front-burner topic.
"They talked to me about the culture. They talked to me about their team," she said. "They asked me questions about who I was, trying to get to know me and my family. The care they had for things that werenât about shooting a basketball and dribbling like that skills-wise was something that was amazing. That was ... the best part of my visit."
That evening was the start of an approximately 24-hour run in Madison that was spent in the company of the entire coaching staff except for her time at the hotel and a visit with rising seniors Shay Bollin and Laci Steele.
"It was just me and them and I was able to genuinely ask them questions, and I think the girls had the same genuineness," Elisaldez said about her visit with the players. "You could tell by the way they talked about the coaches how much they genuinely feel safe, how much theyâre genuinely a family and how much they look up to their people each and every day.
Pingeton pitched the culture of the program. It reminded Elisaldez of what she experienced growing up and what she sought in a new team. She bought in. Quickly.
Elisaldez committed during the visit even though she had two visits scheduled immediately after her trip to UW. She said about 25 programs showed interest before she began trimming her list.
âI think the all the coaches were deep-rooted into their faith. I think that is something that led me to them, too," Elisaldez said. "I feel lile they have a light that shines through each and every one one of them.â
Caia Elisaldez is ready for new challenge
Even though this is the era of positionless basketball, there is still value in a floor general. Before adding Elisaldez, UW doesnât have one.
The other point guard with experience on the roster is rising sophomore Nikki Kerstein. Kerstein played in 23 of 34 games and averaged 7.7 minutes per game.
Elisaldez, meanwhile, improved her point, rebound and assist averages each season. Her assist/turnover ratio also improved each season.
This past season Elisaldez averaged 17 points, 5.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game for Chattanooga, which went 20-11 and shared the Southern Conference title with a 10-4 record.
She begin her career as a defensive sparkplug for a team that won 28 games and reached the NCAA Tournament. The next year she emerged as the teamâs leading scorer and playmaker. She continued in those roles as a junior in addition to being a veteran leader.
Carrying over those skills to the Big Ten is the next challenge.
"First off I prayed on it," she said. "Iâm real big in my faith and I just felt like God was telling me it was my time to go. (Chattanooga) was amazing and all, but it was also my time to bet on myself ... I want to be able to learn and grow and challenge myself in different ways and I feel like that is exactly what I was able to do."
Wisconsin forward Gift Uchenna attempts a shot during the Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss to Columbia on March 30, 2026, at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. It ended UW's 2025-26 season with a 16-18 record.
Wisconsin guard Ronnie Porter directs the offense.
Wisconsin forward Gift Uchenna drives toward the paint.
Wisconsin forward Destiny Howell attempts a shot over Columbia guard Mia Broom.
Wisconsin guard Kyrah Daniels looks across the court.
Wisconsin center Dorja Zoja is tightly defended by Columbia forward Eriny Erinugha.
Wisconsin coach Robin Pingeton instructs her team.
Wisconsin center Dorja Zaja looks to pass.
Wisconsin guard Laci Steele attempts a shot over Columbia guard Susie Raifu.
Wisconsin guard Lily Krahn attempts a shot.
Wisconsin guard Destiny Howell defends an inbound pass by guard/forward Perri Page.
Wisconsin center Dorja Zaja attempts a free throw.
Wisconsin guard Lily Krahn finds an opening in Columbia's defense.
Wisconsin coach Robin Pingeton gestures from the sideline.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin forward Gift Uchenna attempts a shot during the Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss to Columbia on March 30, 2026, at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. It ended UW's 2025-26 season with a 16-18 record.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin forward Gift Uchenna attempts a shot during the Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss to Columbia on March 30, 2026, at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. It ended UW's 2025-26 season with a 16-18 record.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin guard Ronnie Porter directs the offense.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin forward Gift Uchenna drives toward the paint.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin forward Destiny Howell attempts a shot over Columbia guard Mia Broom.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin guard Kyrah Daniels looks across the court.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin center Dorja Zoja is tightly defended by Columbia forward Eriny Erinugha.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin coach Robin Pingeton instructs her team.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin center Dorja Zaja looks to pass.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin guard Laci Steele attempts a shot over Columbia guard Susie Raifu.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin guard Lily Krahn attempts a shot.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin guard Destiny Howell defends an inbound pass by guard/forward Perri Page.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin center Dorja Zaja attempts a free throw.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin guard Lily Krahn finds an opening in Columbia's defense.
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See photos from Wisconsin Badgers' WBIT semifinal loss vs Columbia
Wisconsin coach Robin Pingeton gestures from the sideline.
UW might help Elisaldez unlock 3-point shooting
One aspect of Elisaldezâs game that is untapped is her 3-point shooting. She hit 53.3% on just 30 attempts as a freshman but connected on 25.7% (19 of 74) as a sophomore and 29.6% (16 of 54) as a junior.
In addition to creating 3-point chances for the team with her ability to get into the lane and find shooters, Elisaldez sees the potential to become a more productive 3-point shooters in the Badgersâ 3-point friendly offense.
Elisaldez is also excited to work with assistant Ariel Massengale, who was a standout point guard at Tennessee.
âCoach P is a great coach, but I think Coach Massengale as a point guard coming from Tennessee would be a great person to have as a position-type coach and just a great role model,â Elisaldez said. âI think she played at the highest level, too. She knows what it takes, so honestly to feed off of her and pick her brain a little bit, that thonestly was something that intrigued me, too.â
The Caia Elisaldez-Addie Deal connection
One bonus of Elisaldezâs commitment to Wisconsin is that it reunites her with Iowa transfer Addie Deal.
The two were teammates Elisaldezâs senior year at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. They also played with and against each other growing up.
Before her visit to UW, Elisaldez spoke to Deal about UW and told her she was going to commit if the visit was as good in person as it had been over the phone.
âShe was the first person I texted after I did it,â Elisaldez said. I said, âIâm going to do it. Iâm going to commit,â and she was like, âDo itâ. As soon as I did it, I texted her and was like, 'I did it' and she was freaking out, too. And we were both like âOh my gosh, weâre back!ââ
