The Iowa State women’s basketball team will enter the 2025-26 season with the top player in the Big 12 Conference and as one of the top teams in the league.
Iowa State junior Audi Crooks was named the Big 12’s preseason player of the year on Oct. 9. Crooks is part of an Iowa State team selected to finish second in the league.
The preseason awards were voted on by coaches throughout the league. They were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Both are impressive accolades for a team full of high hopes for the upcoming season. Crooks, a native of Algona, is a primary reason for the excitement.
The 6-foot-3 post player has been one of Iowa State’s top stars since she arrived in Ames, averaging 21.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during her first two seasons.
Crooks led the Big 12 in scoring last season, averaging 23.4 points per game. She also set single-season school records for scoring and made field goals.
Just three other Iowa State players have earned preseason player of the year honors for Iowa State. Crooks joins Stacy Freese (1999-2000), Angie Welle (2000-01) and Ashley Joens (2022-23).
Crooks is the headliner on an Iowa State roster that returns most of its players from a season ago. The Cyclones have their two top scorers back with Crooks and Addy Brown.
Both Crooks and Brown were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. Crooks was a unanimous selection.
Brown is one of three returning NCAA Division I women’s basketball players to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season. She’s the only player in program history to record at least 450 points, 250 rebounds and 150 assists in a single season.
Five of Iowa State’s leading scorers from last season join them, including Kenzie Hare, Sydney Harris and Arianna Jackson. That ensemble led the Cyclones to a 23-12 mark including a 12-6 record in Big 12 play.
Iowa State reached the NCAA Tournament, winning its First Four contest before losing its next game. This marks the second straight season that Iowa State was picked to finish second in the league.
Big 12 women’s basketball 2025-26 preseason coaches’ poll
2025-26 All-Big 12 women’s basketball preseason team
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State’s Audi Crooks named Big 12 preseason player of the year; Cyclones picked second
Reporting by Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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