United Group Insurance

Crooks Lands Spot on Wade Trophy Watch List

Sports

November 12th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball sophomore Audi Crooks completed the clean sweep of preseason National Player of the Year Watch Lists on Tuesday when the rising star was named to the “Wade Watch” for the 2025 Wade Trophy, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced.

Crooks has already been named to the Preseason Watch Lists for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award this season. She was also named a unanimous choice for the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Preseason AP All-America Honorable Mention and Preseason All-America Second Team by The Athletic. The Algona, Iowa native also appears on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List for the nation’s top center in women’s basketball.

Through No. 8 Iowa State’s first three contests of the 2024-25 season, Crooks averages 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor. Against Southern, the 6-3 center posted 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for her ninth career double-double. She finished 7-of-11 from the floor while also passing out three assists and nabbing a steal in 23 minutes of action.

The 2023 AP All-America Honorable Mention and First Team All-Big 12 selection set an Iowa State single-season record for made field goals (258) and freshman records for points (635) and made free throws (114) a season ago. Crooks has now tallied 684 points and 282 rebounds through 36 games in her career while shooting over 57 percent (276-483) from the floor.

Crooks and the No. 8 Cyclones return to action on Thursday night, taking on St. Thomas (MN). Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.