Jan Jensen’s ritual worked well back then. As an assistant coach on the Iowa women’s basketball staff, Jensen always found time to take each one of her players out for a coffee or smoothie and engage in a relaxed, sit-down conversation. Discussion reaches beyond the confines of the court and into the realm of life and its values: progress, patience, and belief.
When Jensen earned a promotion to the head role two years ago, her friends told her she wouldn’t have time for these one-on-one excursions, but the coach persisted. On Jan. 14, her tradition continued with freshman guard Addie Deal. The much-hyped five-star recruit from Irvine, California, was a thousand miles away from home and 16 games into her first collegiate season.
Deal’s debut was a rather inauspicious start, a seven-turnover performance against Southern University. Over her first five games, she shot 34 percent from the field. Reserve minutes fluctuated, and in Iowa’s first four games against ranked opponents, she averaged a little less than eight. Such is life as a bench player, but for a former McDonald’s All-American, such a change can be jarring.
“Sometimes what you think is going to happen right off the bat, it needs to take time,” Jensen said. “It’s faster, it’s bigger. There’s a lot that’s always happening. We have a lot of depth.”
The crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena gave Deal a loud ovation when she first checked in to her debut, and in Jensen’s eyes, appeasing outside expectations is a losing battle. Rather, the head coach wanted Deal to know that those closest to her aren’t disappointed or frustrated, but encouraged. As Jensen puts it, alleviating pressure and elevating joy.
“What is fun about the University of Iowa is celebrating everybody’s accomplishments. It’s working together and knowing when your time has come and you’re ready.”
Deal’s time arrived a day later in Iowa’s victory over Oregon, where Deal tied for the team-lead in scoring with a career-high 18 points – 12 of which she cashed in on a perfect night from beyond the arc. Three days later in a ranked matchup against Michigan State, Deal still couldn’t miss, connecting on both of her triples to lead the bench scoring for the Hawkeyes.
The guard missed just three shots over the two game span. While the freshman’s hot streak went cold against Maryland on Jan. 22, Deal bounced back with a team-leading 20-point performance against Ohio State three days later.
Echoing her head coach, Deal noted her impressive performance didn’t arrive overnight.
“Just putting in the extra work before practice, during practice, after practice,” Deal said.
Teammate Hannah Stuelke was once a freshman herself, averaging just 6.5 points per game back in the 2022-23 season. A power conference like the Big Ten can be an arduous introduction to college basketball, but the senior said Deal’s focus has kept her on the right path.
“I’m really proud of her, there’s more to come for sure,” Stuelke said.
Deal’s blossoming is somewhat reminiscent of Iowa sophomore Ava Heiden’s first season on campus. The center never tallied double-digit points in a game until the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament against a ranked Michigan State team. That contest marked the start of the three-game run where Heiden averaged 12 points and five rebounds.
While not mitigating Heiden’s past achievements, Jensen articulated the difference between the two players’ growth trajectories. A post player like Heiden needed to develop proper position in the paint and create angles to score when she received the ball on an entry pass. For a guard like Deal, she must establish position and handle defensive pressure at the top of the key, all while handling the ball.
Jensen never questioned Deal’s confidence. She just hopes the guard can continue to develop confidence as the Hawkeyes continue their Big Ten schedule, which includes a homecoming with two games in California. Deal can be aware of pressure but not weighed down by its intensity.
“There’s a lot of season left, and I just want her to continue to keep doing what she’s doing,” Jensen said. “And if she does that, you’ll continue to see that growth.”