“I don’t see it as pressure”: Addie Deal is embracing the spotlight that's on her

The spotlight isn’t new to Iowa WBB freshman guard Addie Deal. A five-star recruit out of Mater Dei High School in California; Deal has competed on some of the grandest stages that AAU basketball has to offer. From the McDonald’s All-American Game to the Mamba League, Nike Nationals, USA Basketball minicamp—even playing for the same AAU program that Sabrina Ionescu got her start with—Deal is no stranger to playing in the spotlight.

“I think that’s helped a lot of our players over the years, whether it’s the McDonald’s All-American Game or who they’re competing against in the summers,” said assistant coach Abby Stamp. “When we’re looking at scouting reports for a big game against UCLA or whomever it may be, they’ve already gone up against a lot of these players, so it gives them an extra level of confidence and comfort.”

“Playing in front of 15,000, I think that’s going to be a little different for her, but I won’t be surprised if she’s the type of kid that just doesn’t have a whole lot of nerves (in those moments) and really relishes that kind of spotlight.”

Despite all those experiences, nothing quite prepares you for running out 15,000 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and facing the highest-level of competition in the Big Ten on a nightly basis. To go along with that, Deal is the third-highest rated recruit in program history, arriving at Iowa with lofty expectations being placed on her by the media and by the fanbase. For some, that can be a little overwhelming, but in talking with Addie, there’s a sense of calmness and groundedness.

“I’m definitely motivated by it, and I think it’s very exciting,” Deal told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t really see it as pressure, just more as excitement and all these people are here to support us and just want the best for us.”

“I’ve been under the spotlight and I’m just excited for it. I know it’s supposed to be pressure, but I’m just really looking forward to it.”

That calmness and groundedness that she carries herself with is especially vital during summer workouts. For every freshman, five-star, four-star or one-star, the first few months on campus are a whirlwind. Off the court, it’s about adjusting to life away from home for the first time. In the practice gym, it’s about taking in every bit of coaching and instruction tossed their way

“It’s definitely a lot of learning. I’m just trying to absorb everything,” said Deal. “Come to practice early, get my shots in, come after practice, get more shots in. The style and the certain shots that I’m getting in this offense are a little different than what I’ve done before, so just getting used to that.”

“I think I’m getting a lot better now (after a couple weeks). I’m starting to understand and read the stuff better. Not too panicked or anything, but just really understanding and reading everything.”

For Addie, the reality is that her path to significant minutes is very likely going to be shorter than the vast majority of freshman. Ranked as a top 20 recruit in the ’25 class, she’s expected to carve out a major role in her first season with the Hawkeyes—possibly even earning a spot in the starting lineup on day one.

“Addie has been a really big surprise, not that we didn’t know what kind of talent she had coming in, but to just see how seamlessly she kind of fit into things,” said Abby Stamp. “One thing that stood out to me, based on, watching her whole career, I was a little bit surprised by her strength and her physicality around the rim. She can really finish in there, which you didn’t get to see as much of that (in high school).”

“She’s just well-beyond her years in a lot of things skill wise and as far as how she is vocally, how she takes coaching, how she can take something and put it right into action, she’s pretty far ahead in that regard.”

At this point, it seems like almost a no-doubter that Addie Deal is going to have a major role, but her versatility at the guard spot is something that will allow the coaching staff to mix and match lineups around her. She has the size and strength to play small forward, the shooting to play shooting guard, as well as the ball handling and passing skills to play the point guard position.

“I played for the Sabrina Ionescu AAU team. She was always a role model of mine, playing and looking up to her, so I would say Sabrina (is who I model my game after),” said Deal. “I love passing, having a great pass or making a three, I like to do both. I don’t want to be focused on one or the other…I like to make a lot of uphill passes. Ava (Heiden) has been running amazing in practices, so I’m excited to get on the court with her.”

“With the style that we like to play, where all the pressure isn’t all on the point guard to consistently bring it up the floor, she’s definitely someone that could slide over there and get some minutes at the one position if we need her to.”

When the season officially kicks off in early November, it will have been over 600 days since Addie Deal committed to Iowa. Addie says even through the Lisa Bluder retirement and Jan Jensen taking over the program, she never wavered on her commitment. She says she’s also seen the support of Hawkeye fans well before she got to campus.

“Not a second,” said Deal. “I asked Coach Jan if the culture was going to change and she said, no, definitely not and I was like, okay, I’m on board.”

“Ever since my commitment post, I’ve got a lot of Iowa people reaching out, but during my senior season at Mater Dei High School, every game there would be two or three Iowa shirts or jerseys in the stands. They’d be like, oh, we were just in town and came to watch you play. I think that’s so special because you don’t see that.”