Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

All Signs Point to Audi Crooks' Iowa State Transfer

Originally posted on Women's Fastbreak on SI
By Grant Young | Last updated Mar 26, 2026 2:16 PM ET

One of the biggest stories during the last NCAA offseason was whether Iowa State Cyclones star forward Audi Crooks was going to transfer.

This came after Crooks was named a third-team All-American because of her elite sophomore campaign, where she averaged 23.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Yet, Iowa State lost in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and many felt like Crooks deserved to play for more of a championship contender.

But Crooks shut this sentiment down with an Instagram post after the season ended that read, "Dear Cyclone Nation, Thank you to all the coaches and fans that have supported me on this journey. After much thought and consideration... quit asking! I am right where I want to be! Let's run it back. #LOYALforevertrue".

View this post on Instagram

Fast forward a few days, and Jada Williams announced that she'll be transferring out of Iowa State. What's more, Addy Brown (who is the Cylones' third elite player, along with Williams and Crooks) has already announced that she's transferring.

In addition, freshman guard Reese Beaty, junior forward Lilly Taulelei, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, and sophomore Aili Tanke have also already entered the transfer portal. Junior Alisa Williams announced she'll be transferring on March 26, according to Talia Goodman of On3Sports. That makes for seven players in the span of a week.

NEWS: Iowa State’s Alisa Williams has entered the transfer portal, she told @On3.

The 6-2 junior averaged 4.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg this season.

TRACKER: https://t.co/wYv1Ze6704 pic.twitter.com/cN5RnrhgoM
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) March 26, 2026

While Crooks still hasn't said anything about her own transfer decision, it's hard to imagine that she'll stay around Iowa State, given that the roster is already in a much worse place than it was when the team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament about a week ago.

Crooks deserves to compete for a national championship before she graduates. The Cylones aren't national championship contenders. She surely knows this more than most.

This article first appeared on Women's Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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