A fan favorite during her three years in Ames, Iowa, Audi Crooks found herself part of the transfer portal exodus. Ultimately, it was Oklahoma State University that benefited as they bagged one of the Big 12’s best players. Now Crooks is set to return as an opponent of the Iowa Cyclones, and Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly addressed the uncertainty surrounding the atmosphere at the Hilton Coliseum when she arrives wearing Oklahoma orange on January 9.

“I can’t control the reception,” Fennelly said during his Big 12 Media Days appearance at the T-Mobile Center on Tuesday, regarding how Iowa fans will react to seeing the star they cheered for playing against them.

“I don’t know what it’s going to be. It’ll be mixed, probably. She played three really good years, and she added a lot to our team… She’s part of a really good team now,” the coach said as per Sports Illustrated.

Recruited out of high school by Fennelly, Crooks, an Algona native, left as the program’s second all-time leading scorer behind Ashley Joens.

Crooks headlined a major portal departure from Iowa State that also saw teammate Addy Brown depart the Cyclones. While Brown found her spot with reigning champion UCLA, Crooks stayed in the Big 12.

However, that also means she now faces off against her former team twice during the regular season. If both teams make it to the postseason, then there’s a possibility of even more matchups between OSU and Iowa.

However, Fennelly warned that Crooks, in all likelihood, will find it difficult going up against the team she played for three seasons.

“That’s the world we are in with college sports. There’s a lot of people that have played for multiple teams. It won’t be fun — I’m not gonna lie to you about that,” said Fennelly.

The coach also said that regardless of the history Crooks had with Iowa, when she visits Hilton Coliseum early next year, his focus will be to get the win over his former star player’s current team.

“I don’t dictate the schedule. On Jan. 9 they’ll be in our building, and we’ll try to do the best we can.”

Back in April, the Iowa head coach had made it clear that there are no hard feelings between Iowa and the players who chose the transfer portal.

“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,” said Fennelly.

While Crooks may have ended up in Oklahoma State, the jury is still out on whether she improves them enough to push for a title or not.

How Does Audi Crooks Impact The Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Few predicted Crooks wearing orange and black, and the pairing with Jacie Hoyt is tactically captivating. Hoyt has historically built around dynamic guards operating out of high ball screens to create downhill penetration. Last year, that philosophy manifested in Oklahoma State ranking seventh in the country in pick-and-roll volume at 27.5 possessions per game, according to CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney—making Crooks’ integration into the offense a storyline to watch.

And Crooks’ fit in the team becomes even more interesting, considering the Cowgirls also secured Florida transfer Liv McGill. Coming off a 22.5-point scoring campaign, the guard led all Division I players in individual pick-and-roll volume, orchestrating 20.8 possessions per night.

Operating out of the pick-and-roll system represents uncharted territory for Crooks, who was rarely utilized in screening actions at Iowa State. Yet her overlooked touch from the midrange suggests a natural capacity to flourish in this scheme, provided the non-stop movement and physical toll don’t wear her down.

But tactical undercurrents may not be the only factor that Crooks considered while joining Oklahoma.

“…I’m looking for culture, number one, first and foremost, somewhere with good people,” Crooks said back in April. “Number two, somewhere with some shooters. I need a little help from the outside to be an inside-outside threat type of team, and a dual threat team. And number three, somewhere that is gonna push me, push me hard, and develop me into who I want to be.”

As Oklahoma prepares for the season’s start, we need to remember that Crooks delivered a historically dominant junior season at Iowa State, where she averaged 25.8 PPG (ranked 2nd in NCAA Division I), 7.7 rebounds per game, and registered a field goal percentage of 64.9% (ranked 2nd in Division I), earning a selection in the Associated Press Second Team All-American and Unanimous First Team All-Big 12.

So, despite what the current system in Oklahoma is, Crooks has the potential to succeed there as well. A strong 24–10 campaign saw Oklahoma State claim a share of fourth place in the Big 12 at 12–6, anchored by two head-to-head victories over none other than Iowa State.

The Cowgirls’ March Madness run came to an end in the second round, where they ran into eventual national champion UCLA in an 87–68 defeat. The addition of Crooks can perhaps take this team deeper into the competition.