Women's Fastbreak On SI

Fans Call For Audi Crooks to Transfer After Iowa State NCAA Tournament Elimination

The Iowa State Cyclones losing in the NCAA Tournament on Friday has fans asking for star center Audi Crooks to transfer.
Grant Young|
Mar 7, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) shoots a free throw against the Baylor Lady Bears in the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images
Mar 7, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones center Audi Crooks (55) shoots a free throw against the Baylor Lady Bears in the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images | Amy Kontras-Imagn Images

The No.11 seed Iowa State Cyclones women's basketball team has been eliminated from the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Friday after they were beaten by the No. 6 seed Michigan Wolverines by a score of 80-74.

Despite the defeat, Cyclones star center Audi Crooks was fantastic in the game, as she finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 33 minutes played. This finished an awesome sophomore season where Crooks averaged 23.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, which was enough to earn her third-team All-America honors a few days ago.

It's difficult to imagine that the Cyclones would have made it to the NCAA Tournament this season without Crooks on their roster, given that she has been their best player by far. And in the wake of Friday's loss, some fans on social media are asserting that now is the right time for Crooks to transfer so she can find success at another school.

"Audi crooks hit the portal. You deserve better," one X user wrote along with a GIF of actor Mark Ruffalo protesting something on the street.

Another fan added, "Audi Crooks gotta hit the transfer portal."

"Audi Crooks gone ahead and hit that transfer portal 🕊️," a third fan wrote.

There's no indication that Crooks intends to transfer out of Iowa State at this point in her career. But if she wants a chance to compete for an NCAA national championship before her college career ends, leaving the Cyclones in favor of another school may be her only opportunity.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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