Iowa State Star Audi Crooks Makes Stark Admission on Negative Social Media Comments

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Mar 7, 2025 6:20 PM ET

The college sports landscape has changed dramatically in recent years with the emergence of NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deals and social media promitions, prompting discussions about how young student athletes have been affected.

Iowa State's Audi Crooks is among the women's basketball players whose star has risen in recent months, as the Cyclones center has become one of the sport's most recognizable players and one of the leading scorers in the nation.

Recently, Crooks shared her thoughts on an NIL partnership that has been making waves, along with a stark admission on how she handles negative comments that often come with the territory of becoming a public figure on social media.

Crooks revealed that she has a 'love-hate' relationship with social media in a recent interview with Iowa based SiouxLandProud.com.

The Algona, Iowa native stated that she has received negative comments on the way she looks, plays or acts and urged fans to keep things positive.

"They're missing the whole point of social media, of the internet, of being able to interact with us," Crooks said.

"I want to use my social platform for positive connections."

Crooks and Iowa basketball player Hannah Stuelke have partnered with the US Cellular company to encourage positive social media habits.

A study from the NCAA released last fall found that female athletes are three times as likely to suffer online abuse, with 18% of comments recorded as sexual in nature, 17% as general abuse, 14% as sexist and 12% as gambling based.

Panic attacks, anxiety, depression and other side effects oftentimes result from online harassment.

Crooks revealed how she handles negative comments in the interview.

"Most of the time," she said, "I try to just brush it off."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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