Apr 02, 2026
3 min read
Iowa State women's basketball star Audi Crooks will transfer for her final year of college eligibility, she announced Thursday on social media.
Iowa State women's basketball star Audie Crooks will enter the portal to move on to her final year of university, this xoves announced on social media.
Crooks has emerged as one of the most prominent faces in women's college basketball and the biggest name to enter the transfer portal to date.
The 6-foot-3 junior from Algona, Iowa, finished second in the nation in scoring this year, establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in the country.He averaged 25.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 64.9% from the floor as a junior.
"Thank you all for welcoming me and introducing me to the Hilton every game day," Crooks wrote in an email directed at Cyclone Nation.
"I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I did that here. So I want you to hear right from me that I decided to enter the portal and find out what it means to live in a new land again."
Crooks was recently named an Associated Press and USBWA second-team All-American and was selected to the Wooden Award All-America team.
He joins nine other tornadoes as they enter the pass.
Statement from CEO Bill Fennelly pic.twitter.com/lzWJrs4yLj
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) April 2, 2026
Speculation about Crooks' future at Ames arose when he was asked in March if he wanted to finish his collegiate career at Iowa State, and he did not answer the question.She was eligible to declare for the 2026 WNBA draft, but confirmed she wants to stay in college for a fourth season.
A top-15 preseason team, Iowa State went 22-10 this year, was the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and ended its season with a disappointing first-round loss to No. 9 seed Syracuse in which Crooks scored 37 points.
