Iowa State star center Audi Crooks is moving on.
The Algona, Iowa, native became the 10th member of the Cyclones’ women’s basketball team to enter the transfer portal after falling to No. 9 Syracuse 72-63 as the No. 8 seed in the opening round of the national tournament.
Crooks shared the following message with the Iowa State community on X:
“Thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day,” Crooks said. “I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State. Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home. I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. To my coaches and all the Iowa State staff, thank you for always supporting me. I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here. It’s why I want you to hear from me directly that I’ve decided to enter the portal and explore what it means to take root again in new ground.”
Crooks led Iowa State with 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game this past season, and her production will be tough to replace as Bill Fennelly comes off his 31st season as head coach in Ames.
With the portal exodus Iowa State has, this move by Crooks isn’t all that surprising, but it still tastes just as bitter, given that she’s such a star among the women’s basketball fandom. She has one season of college basketball left, and she’s weighing her options before likely seeking out a pro career.
A proven big with undeniable results, Crooks is bound to reward another program as a three-time All-American and three-time First Team All-Big 12 selection. She also wears a Gold Medal from the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup.
