While many Iowa State women’s basketball players have decided to enter the transfer portal following the season, at least one contributor will stick around.
Cyclones guard Evangelia Paulk, who started five games for Iowa State during the 2025-26 season, told The Des Moines Register on March 30 she plans to return next season.
Paulk, a 6-foot junior last season, played in 25 games this past season, averaging 2.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game. She dealt with an elbow injury that forced her to miss key time at the end of the season.
Paulk’s return comes amid a roster makeover for Iowa State with nine players planning to hit the transfer portal including starting point guard Jada Williams and star forward Addy Brown.
Iowa State star Audi Crooks told The Register last week that she still hadn’t decided if she was going to return to play for the Cyclones during her senior season.
With Paulk coming back, Iowa State returns a player with starting experience that also gives the Cyclones some athleticism and excitement.
Paulk began her college career at Wofford where she earned SoCon Freshman of the Year honors during her first season. During Paulk’s second season with the Terriers, she averaged 12.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Last season was her first season with the Cyclones.
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Cyclones guard Evangelia Paulk plans to return to Iowa State next season
Reporting by Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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