Meet Addie Deal: Wisconsin Badgers' Exciting New Addition
TL;DR
Addie Deal, a 6-foot guard, joins the Wisconsin Badgers after a promising freshman season at Iowa, where she earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors. Known for her potential, she was the No. 9 recruit in the class of 2025 and is the first McDonald's All-American to play for Wisconsin.
Key points
- Addie Deal is a 6-foot guard joining Wisconsin from Iowa.
- She was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in her first year.
- Deal was the No. 9 overall recruit in the class of 2025.
- She is the first McDonald's All-American to play for Wisconsin.
- Her shooting consistency is a key area for improvement.
Wisconsin did not go into the transfer portal to find a polished backcourt star. It sought a higher-ceiling guard, and Addie Deal fits that bill. The 6-foot guard's flashes during her freshman year at Iowa only hint at what her pedigree suggests is coming.
Deal arrived from Iowa after a 2025-26 freshman season that brought All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors and two Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. She averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game, shooting 39.4% from the field, 29.7% from 3-point range, and 68.0% at the free-throw line. Her résumé also included a career-high 20 points against Ohio State, two five-assist games (Ohio State and Western Illinois), and a four-3s outing against Oregon, the kind of single-game spikes that hint at more responsibility down the road.
Dealâs size and skill are hard to teach, as is the recruiting profile that preceded them. She was the No. 9 overall recruit in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports, starred at Mater Dei, and was rated the top player in California entering college. She also arrives as a program first, the first player in Wisconsin history who was a McDonaldâs All-American coming out of high school, and that kind of talent level is designed to scale with opportunity.
The question is consistency. Dealâs 29.7% mark from deep and 68.0% at the line show she is not yet a reliable perimeter shot-maker, and her 1.6 assists against 1.7 turnovers per game underscore that her decision-making is still developing. This addition focuses more on upside and growth than immediate, all-around production.
With three seasons left after her freshman year, Deal gives Wisconsin time to develop her into a bigger offensive piece. Next to watch is how quickly she earns a larger role and whether improved shooting and cleaner ball security turn those flashes and that résumé into nightly impact.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers Add Addie Deal from Iowa via Transfer Portal
Q&A
What were Addie Deal's stats during her freshman year at Iowa?
Addie Deal averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game during her freshman year at Iowa.
Why is Addie Deal considered a significant addition to the Wisconsin Badgers?
Addie Deal is significant because she is the first McDonald's All-American in Wisconsin history and brings high potential as a top recruit from California.
What challenges does Addie Deal face as she joins the Wisconsin Badgers?
Addie Deal needs to improve her consistency, particularly in her perimeter shooting and decision-making, as indicated by her 29.7% shooting from three-point range and 1.6 assists against 1.7 turnovers.
