Former Iowa State ahead Addy Brown introduced Thursday she is committing to UCLA, giving the Bruins one of many high gamers within the portal.
Brown averaged 11.9 factors, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 43.1% from the ground and 33.8% from three-point distance with the Cyclones final season. She performed simply 21 video games as a result of damage, however she is among the higher two-way gamers within the nation on the switch market.
The 6-foot-2 ahead co-starred with Audi Crooks for Iowa State the previous few seasons and was part of the mass exodus from the Cyclones’ program.
The Bruins reeled in former North Carolina junior guard Elina Aarnisalo and former Texas Christian senior guard Donovyn Hunter a couple of weeks in the past, including two extra skilled gamers to the depleted beginning lineup after a document six UCLA gamers have been chosen within the WNBA draft.
UCLA additionally signed Arkansas sophomore guard Bonnie Deas earlier this month. She is prone to begin at level guard for the Bruins and is among the finest rebounding guards within the nation.
Together with returner Timea Gardiner, the Bruins are beginning to kind considerably of a core to defend their nationwide championship. Gardiner was a starter throughout UCLA’s 2024-25 Closing 4 run, however missed all of this previous season with damage and has one season of eligibility left.
A lineup with Deas and Aarnisalo within the backcourt, Hunter on the three and Gardiner or Brown on the 4 and including one other huge or Sienna Betts on the 5 can be a aggressive lineup within the Massive Ten.
Earlier than going to TCU, Hunter performed two seasons at Oregon State the place she earned All-Pac-12 Defensive Group honorable point out and All-Pac-12 Freshman crew honors. This previous season with a Horned Frogs crew that went to the Candy 16, she was third in scoring with 10.2 factors per recreation and averaged 3.2 rebounds per contest. She additionally shot 45.7% from the sphere and was 33.7% from past the arc.
Aarnisalo performed her freshman 12 months in Westwood after she initially dedicated to UCLA in 2025. Resulting from accidents from level guard Kiki Rice at first of the 2024-25 season, she was compelled into motion early her freshman season and completed the 12 months averaging 5.1 factors per recreation.
The Helsinki, Finland, native averaged 10.2 factors per recreation for the Tar Heels as a sophomore final season whereas taking pictures 47.3% from the sphere and 40.3% from the arc. The Bruins will desperately want to interchange the three-point manufacturing misplaced with the departure of Rice, Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker.
UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned she needed to signal 5 gamers from the portal. She in all probability wants another guard and slightly extra ahead depth coming off the bench following the departures of Gabriela Jaquez and Angela Dugalic.
Lena Bilic and Amanda Muse are returners coming off the bench who received slightly little bit of taking part in time within the event and will have a lot bigger roles, however they’re nonetheless comparatively unproven in late-game conditions. They are going to get an opportunity to develop as backups with some extra Energy 4 skilled starters now within the fold.
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