What in the world is happening at Iowa State? In the span of days, the Cyclones have watched 10 of their players enter the transfer portal. That number alone is staggering. However, it gets even more concerning, as four of the team’s five regular starters are part of that group. And worst of all, the exodus now includes the team’s undisputed star, and the nation’s No. 2 scorer.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Audi Crooks, Iowa State’s dominant center and the nation’s No. 2 scorer, has officially entered the transfer portal. Her move instantly becomes one of the most high-profile decisions in women’s college basketball this cycle.

Audi Crooks’ three-year tenure at Iowa State is widely considered the most dominant individual stretch in program history. A 6-foot-3 center from Algona, Iowa, she came in as a consensus 4-star recruit. Now, she has evolved into the cornerstone of the team’s offense, becoming the fastest player in Big 12 history to reach 2,000 career points. 

Her development at Iowa State was relentless. She jumped from 19.2 points per game as a freshman to a Big 12-leading 23.4 as a sophomore, a season where she also set the program record with 820 points. That rise didn’t just boost her numbers — it anchored three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a 2025 GEICO Coconut Hoops Championship run where she earned Tournament MVP honors.

This season followed a similar script for the team, falling short in the NCAA Tournament once again. However, Crooks’ individual dominance never dipped, as she averaged 25.8 points per game and set a new Iowa State single-game record with a 47-point explosion.

Audi Crooks has not specified a single, definitive reason for her departure. However, her announcement, which she made via a post on her Instagram page, framed the move as a desire to “take root again in new ground” for her final year of eligibility. But for her, this is not a search for greener pastures. And even if it is, she has more than sufficiently watered the ground at Iowa State. Perhaps three consecutive premature NCAA Tournament exits, and not even a Big 12 championship, simply are not green enough for her anymore.

Iowa State Fans React to Audi Crooks’ Transfer Portal Decision

“Iowa State in shambles 😭 10 players in the portal and now Audi Crooks, the No. 2 scorer in the country…, is gone too… .” Fans have greeted Audi Crooks’ transfer portal decision with utmost despair. The team is already down to only a couple of players. Now, Crooks’ decision to leave has only added insult to injury. As another fan puts it, “Iowa State just lost more than a player. That’s identity, production, everything.”

But maybe this is a good move for the 6-foot-3 centre. Her three years with the Cyclones haven’t produced that much in terms of accolades, especially when placed alongside her elite numbers. For some fans, in fact, this move feels right. As one fan puts it, “She stayed and tried to win there multiple years. So you can’t hate her for this move…” One fan even proceeded to send in congratulations, saying, “Congrats to the Queen. Big W for her.” 

A player of Crooks’ caliber entering the transfer portal is massive, especially in an era where elite transfers can instantly reshape contenders. Recent moves across women’s college basketball have shown how one star can swing a title race, and Crooks now sits at the center of that same spotlight.

“Audi Crooks in the portal is a complete game-changer. After averaging 25.8 PPG and nearly 8 RPG, she’s instantly the #1 target for every title contender in the country,” one fan wrote.

She has not yet announced her destination, but with the portal opening on April 6, programs won’t waste time lining up. Wherever she lands next could shift the balance of power immediately.