Iowa State center Audi Crooks, one of the breakout freshmen in women’s college basketball last season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to reporting from the New York Times on May 10. Her decision makes her the 10th member of the Cyclones’ roster to seek a transfer this offseason, a wave of departures that leaves the program facing a dramatically reshaped future.
The New York Times described Crooks as a “star” for Iowa State, underscoring how central she had become to the team’s identity in just one season. The paper also reported that she has officially entered the portal, the database that allows college athletes to signal their intent to explore opportunities at other schools.
While Crooks has not publicly announced a destination, a separate New York Times piece focused on the question of where she might land next, reflecting the level of national interest in her next move.
A Breakout Player on the Move
Crooks’ decision comes after a freshman year in which she emerged as one of Iowa State’s most important players. The New York Times coverage emphasizes her status as a key contributor, using the term “star” to describe her role. That label, while somewhat interpretive, reflects how prominently she featured in national reporting about the Cyclones’ season.
As a freshman, Crooks drew attention for her interior scoring and physical presence in the paint. Although the available reporting does not provide specific statistics, the Times’ characterization and the focus of follow-up coverage on her future suggest she was viewed as a foundational player for Iowa State’s near-term plans.
Her entry into the portal does not guarantee she will leave Iowa State; athletes are allowed to withdraw from the portal and return to their current school if both sides agree. However, the Times’ framing of her as “leaving Iowa State” and exploring transfer options indicates that, at this stage, a move to another program is widely expected.
Ten Cyclones in the Transfer Portal
Crooks’ transfer is part of a larger pattern inside the program. The New York Times reports that she is now the 10th Iowa State player to enter the portal this offseason. That number, while not broken down by class year or role, signals an unusually high level of roster turnover for a single year.
The Times’ event-focused story identifies Crooks’ decision as the latest in this sequence, rather than an isolated move. Though the reporting does not detail the reasons each player chose to transfer, the cumulative effect is clear: Iowa State’s roster, as it was known last season, is undergoing a near-total transformation.
Without official comment from the program included in the available coverage, it is not yet clear how Iowa State’s coaching staff is interpreting this exodus or how they plan to rebuild. There is also no direct reporting, at this point, linking Crooks’ decision to specific internal disputes, changes in role, or staff relationships. What is firmly established is the scale of the departures and the fact that Crooks’ name now joins that list.
Why the Transfer Matters Beyond Ames
Crooks’ entry into the portal has drawn attention not only because of her individual talent but also because of what it suggests about the current volatility of college rosters. A contextual piece from Bleeding Heartland, published the same day, argues that the transfer portal has “obliterated stability” in NCAA programs, using broader examples to illustrate how quickly teams can be remade.
That commentary is not focused solely on Iowa State, and it reflects the author’s analysis rather than a neutral description of conditions. Still, it helps explain why a single player’s decision, like Crooks’, can feel like a hinge moment. When a program’s standout freshman and nine other teammates are all in the portal, the line between a rebuilding year and a complete reset begins to blur.
Nationally, the transfer portal has become a central feature of roster management. The New York Times’ second story on Crooks, which asks where she might go next, situates her decision within that landscape. The piece treats her as a highly sought-after transfer, implying that multiple high-profile programs are likely to pursue her, though it does not confirm any specific suitors.
Because the available reporting does not list schools that have contacted Crooks or that she is considering, any attempt to predict her destination would be speculative. What can be said with confidence is that her combination of size, production, and remaining eligibility makes her one of the more notable names in this transfer cycle.
Impact on Iowa State’s Immediate Future
From Iowa State’s perspective, Crooks’ move into the portal raises practical questions about how the team will compete in the near term. With 10 players reportedly exploring transfers, the Cyclones face the challenge of rebuilding much of their rotation in a single offseason.
The New York Times’ event coverage does not outline the program’s response in detail, and there is no direct quotation from Iowa State officials in the material at hand. However, the sheer number of departures suggests that the staff will need to be aggressive in the same portal that is drawing players away.
For fans, Crooks’ decision is likely to feel especially significant. As a homegrown star who quickly became central to the team’s style of play, her presence offered a sense of continuity and identity. Her potential departure now forces a recalibration of expectations, both for on-court results and for the emotional connection that often forms around standout players.
At the same time, the portal also offers a path for rapid renewal. Programs across the country have used incoming transfers to stabilize after heavy losses. Whether Iowa State can do the same will depend on factors that have not yet been reported: which players are available, what kind of roles the Cyclones can offer, and how attractive the program looks to athletes surveying their options.
What to Watch Next
In the coming days and weeks, the key question will be where Crooks chooses to continue her career. The New York Times has already framed her as one of the more intriguing transfers on the market, and her eventual commitment is likely to be covered closely by national outlets. An official announcement from Crooks—whether through the school she chooses or her own channels—would be the clearest next milestone.
For Iowa State, attention will turn to how the coaching staff uses the portal and recruiting to refill the roster. Concrete indicators to watch include new transfer commitments to the Cyclones, scholarship announcements, and any public statements from the program addressing the wave of departures. Together, those developments will offer the first real glimpse of what the post-Crooks era in Ames could look like, whether she ultimately leaves or decides to return after testing the market.
