Audi Crooks | Syracusefan.com

Audi Crooks

This is really shocking to me. Their home game attendance is almost always among the highest in women's basketball, so seems like they should have plenty of support for NIL etc. But might be connected to TJ's frustrations with the administration on the men's side? Might be some unhappy times in Ames right now?
 
This is really shocking to me. Their home game attendance is almost always among the highest in women's basketball, so seems like they should have plenty of support for NIL etc. But might be connected to TJ's frustrations with the administration on the men's side? Might be some unhappy times in Ames right now?
I think she might also be a grad student. (Might be misremembering.) The article I saw said that her WNBA prospects aren’t great, so it makes sense that she’ll max the NIL. Maybe ISU didn’t want to bid against themselves, so they said see what’s out there, and give us a chance to match. Who knows? She reminds me of the old big shouldered guys in men’s pick up leagues that just beat you up, go close to the basket, and you could never even get close to blocking their shot .
 
up to 10 now
Wow!! What the heck? Aren't they a perennial power?

A quick Google stated:
Iowa State women's basketball is experiencing a mass exodus of over 10 players—including stars Audi Crooks, Addy Brown, and Jada Williams—due to the modern, chaotic state of the transfer portal, seeking NIL opportunities, and frustration over failing to advance in the NCAA tournament. Coach Bill Fennelly is facing intense scrutiny following a 14-0 start that collapsed to a first-round tournament exit, leading many to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

  • The Transfer Portal Environment: Athletics Director Jamie Pollard termed it a "byproduct of the industry," noting players are transferring for more playing time, to be closer to home, or to maximize Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) revenue.
  • Performance Disappointment: Despite early season success, the team struggled late and suffered a disappointing first-round loss to Syracuse.
  • Star Departures: Key contributors like All-American center Audi Crooks, along with Addy Brown and Jada Williams, have left, dismantling the core of the 2025-26 squad.
  • Internal Dissatisfaction: Reports suggest potential underlying issues within the program, with some fans and observers calling for changes and expressing that players were not happy with the team's trajectory.
 
Wow!! What the heck? Aren't they a perennial power?

A quick Google stated:
Iowa State women's basketball is experiencing a mass exodus of over 10 players—including stars Audi Crooks, Addy Brown, and Jada Williams—due to the modern, chaotic state of the transfer portal, seeking NIL opportunities, and frustration over failing to advance in the NCAA tournament. Coach Bill Fennelly is facing intense scrutiny following a 14-0 start that collapsed to a first-round tournament exit, leading many to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

  • The Transfer Portal Environment: Athletics Director Jamie Pollard termed it a "byproduct of the industry," noting players are transferring for more playing time, to be closer to home, or to maximize Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) revenue.
  • Performance Disappointment: Despite early season success, the team struggled late and suffered a disappointing first-round loss to Syracuse.
  • Star Departures: Key contributors like All-American center Audi Crooks, along with Addy Brown and Jada Williams, have left, dismantling the core of the 2025-26 squad.
  • Internal Dissatisfaction: Reports suggest potential underlying issues within the program, with some fans and observers calling for changes and expressing that players were not happy with the team's trajectory.
Yeah I'm not sure what is going on. Living here in Iowa you hear a lot of different potential reasons. I'm sure NIL money explains some of it, but for Crooks I'm not sure. She is from a small Iowa town and is getting paid from a few local Iowa businesses. Not sure those remain if she transfers somewhere outside of Iowa, which seems highly likely since there is only one other power 5 program in the state (UIowa). They probably won't throw a ton of their NIL budget at her and already have a really good center.
 

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