Iowa State star Audi Crooks announced Thursday she is entering the transfer portal, making her the fourth starter and 10th Cyclones player overall to say they will move on after a disappointing second half of the season following a start that matched the best in program history.
Crooks, one of the most popular players in the women's game, averaged 25.8 points per game this season to rank second in the nation. She averaged 22.8 points over 99 games in her three seasons since the Cyclones signed her out of Algona, Iowa.
“I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I've done that here,” Crooks said in a social media post. “It's why I want you to hear from me directly that I have decided to enter the portal and explore what it means to take root again in new ground.”
Crooks follows starters Addy Brown, Mackenzie Hare and Jada Williams into the portal in addition to six reserves.
Arianna Jackson is the only starter to announce she would return next season.
“It goes without saying that college sports have undergone tremendous change the past few years and our program obviously has been impacted by the current landscape this spring,” coach Bill Fennelly said in a social media post. “While I am sad and disappointed that some of our players have chosen to pursue other opportunities, I want to thank them for their time at Iowa State and wish them all the best as they move on.”
Athletic director Jamie Pollard, in a video released by the school, said Fennelly, who turns 69 next month, would return for a 32nd season. Pollard noted other women's basketball programs are going through similar upheaval and that players often are leaving with the hope of getting bigger revenue-sharing payments.
The two-week portal window begins Monday, and Pollard said the Cyclones' fan support, history and coaching staff will make Iowa State an attractive destination.
“And know this," Pollard said, “our coaches will have more than enough revenue-share dollars to be able to attract some of the best student-athletes possible.”
The Cyclones were picked second in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, started 14-0 to match the 2013-14 team for the best start and were ranked No. 10 for five straight weeks. They then dropped five straight games and went on to tie for seventh in the conference at 10-8. They were a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost their opener to No. 9 seed Syracuse 72-63.
Crooks is the biggest name in the portal so far. She is a three-time All-Big 12 first-team pick and has scored in double figures in 98 straight games, the nation’s longest active streak.
She caught the nation's attention as a freshman when she scored 40 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Maryland. Nearly unstoppable in the low post, she scored at least 30 points in 17 games in three seasons and went over 40 four times this season on her way to making the Associated Press All-America second-team.
Off the court, Crooks attracted crowds for her willingness to engage with fans. She landed name, image and likeness deals with the Iowa Pork Producers, US Cellular and a number of other sponsors and used some of her earnings to buy new uniforms for her high school, Bishop Garrigan in Algona, and support other local causes.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
