MADISON – The Wisconsin women’s basketball team continues to win the offseason.
The Badgers, who picked up two former Iowa Hawkeyes as well as the Northeast Conference player of the year from the transfer portal last week, scored two more portal wins Thursday, April 23.
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The first involved Kyrah Daniels, who reportedly pulled her name from the transfer portal and will return to the Badgers for her senior season.
The other involved the addition of Caia Elisaldez, a 5-foot-5 point guard from Chattaooga who was the Southern Conference player of the year this season.
“Caia is a dynamic guard who brings toughness, skill and a strong understanding of the game,” UW coach Robin Pingeton said in a press release. “A great floor general and an elite facilitator, she also excels at attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line.”
Monday, April 21 marked the final day the transfer portal was open for women’s basketball. On3’s portal track listed the Badgers with three departures: junior guard Breauna Ware and sophomore forwards Alie Bisballe and Jovana Spasovski.
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Those losses were offset by the signing of former Hawkeyes Allie Deal, a 2025 McDonald’s All-American, and Teagan Mallegni, a McFarland native. Wisconsin also picked up 6-3 forward Kadidia Toure from Long Island.
Getting back Daniels gives UW a player who was arguably its best last season. The 6-foot guard finished second in scoring (12.4 ppg), second in rebounds (5.1 rpg) and second in assists (2.6 apg). She also shot 34.5% from 3-point range, ranking second in 3s made (68) and first in 3-point attempts (197).
Meanwhile, the addition of Elisaldez filled a major need.
Senior Ronnie Porter completed her eligibility, which left the program without a proven point guard. Elisaldez fits that bill.
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Elisaldez, who is from Whittier, California, improved her scoring, rebounding and assist averages each season. She averaged 17 points, 5.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game this season.
She led the Mocs to a 20-11 record and a share of the regular season conference title. The team qualified for the WBIT and lost to North Dakota State in the first round.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin’s signs SoCon POY Elisaldez; Daniels withdraws from portal
