The Iowa Women's Basketball team began summer practices to ramp up their preparation for the 2025-2026 season. The Hawkeyes lost four seniors, including last season's leading scorer Lucy Olsen, and are attempting to acclimate five new players to their roster.
Iowa added five-star prospect Addie Deal, four-star prospects Journey Houston and Layla Hays, Georgia Tech transfer Chazadi Wright, and UCF transfer Emely Rodriguez to the roster this season.
The Hawkeyes will be without forward Hannah Stuelke until she returns from the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup with Team USA in Santiago, Chile. The tournament takes place from June 28 to July 6.
Following the fourth day of practice, Iowa Head Coach Jan Jensen and multiple members of the squad spoke to the media about their preparations and outlook for next season. Jensen was asked about Addie Deal, the makeup of the team, and how new coach Sydney Affolter is adjusting.
Addie Deal continues to impress at summer practice
Addie Deal, a six-foot guard prospect from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, was ranked as a five-star recruit and California's No. 1 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.
247 Sports' Brandon Clay, the director of scouting for women's college basketball, said she has been on everyone's radar since she was a freshman in high school.
She is a dual-threat combo guard who can pass and score at a high level and will make an immediate impact in her first collegiate season.
Jensen told reporters she is extremely skilled and has been catching on fast. It is just "business as usual" for her.
Jensen also noted that Deal has been in the spotlight for multiple years, and she likes how Deal has managed it. She mentioned that she has a mature mindset and has handled the pressure very well.
The 2025-2026 Hawkeyes have size, and will use it
One key point of Jensen's interview with reporters is that this year's team will be bigger.
She noted that Stuelke played a smaller center last season, and they only had freshmen (now sophomores) Ava Heiden and Taylor Stremlow as size off the bench.
This season, Jensen says the additions of Layla Hays and Emely Rodriguez will allow them to play bigger, and they can play two bigs at the same time.
Jensen said it will look different at times, but they will use their size to their advantage next season.
Sydney Affolter going from player to coach
Last season, Sydney Affolter was one of the team's senior leaders and guided the Hawkeyes to an NCAA Tournament berth for the seventh consecutive season. After losing multiple coaches, Affolter joined the staff as a graduate assistant.
Jensen quickly praised Affolter's work, stating it is difficult to go from a player to a coach because the preparation is very different.
She noted that Affolter has been great and is already helping the other coaches with her knowledge of the system.
Affolter will be a solid resource for the Hawkeyes because she played in the system and can help teach it to the new players.