Ex-Iowa State star Audi Crooks has found a home, ending weeks of speculation by announcing she’ll transfer to Oklahoma State for her senior year.
Crooks finished the 2025/26 NCAA season second in DI scoring with 25.8 points per game while shooting 64.9% from the field, building on a career 22.8-point, 7.7-rebound-per-game average.
"We are thrilled with the addition of Audi," said Cowgirls head coach Jacie Hoyt in a team statement.
"She has elite size and strength paired with elite hands and touch that allow her to be an automatic bucket around the rim. The last three years I've watched team after team strategize and game plan around stopping her and almost all have failed miserably."
The 6-foot-3 center joins touted Florida transfer Liv McGill in Stillwater, after the rising junior averaged 22.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists last season.
"Liv is arguably the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball. She has elite quickness and an unbelievable finishing package around the rim," Hoyt said, praising the 5-foot-9 guard.
"Liv can score at all three levels, but she is so much more. She has great court vision and can deliver a pass on a dime. Her speed and athleticism allow her to jump passing lanes on the other end of the floor."
NCAA Transfer Portal Closes as Top Players Find New Teams
The 2026 NCAA transfer portal closed Monday night, ending its official entry period — though players already in the portal can still commit to new schools.
Some big names opted to stay put, as Virginia guard Kymora Johnson announced she’ll exit the portal and return to the Cavaliers under new coach Aaron Roussell.
Others are heading out, as Texas guard Jordan Lee goes to South Carolina, Iowa State guard Jada Williams joins LSU, Georgia guard Dani Carnegie moves to Iowa, and Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper lands at Ole Miss.
Audi Crooks is headed to Oklahoma State, giving the Cowgirls a major boost out of the women's college basketball transfer portal.
The former Iowa State star announced her commitment in a video wearing an Oklahoma State uniform, dancing alongside Cowgirls head coach Jacie Hoyt.
Crooks entered the portal earlier this month, immediately becoming one of NCAA basketball's most sought-after players.
She leaves Iowa State following a dominant junior season. The 6-foot-3 center averaged 25.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 65% from the field. She finished 2025/26 as the second-leading scorer in the country while earning Second Team AP All-American honors.
That production made her the portal's top player — as well as a potential game-changer for Oklahoma State.
The move keeps Crooks in the Big 12, where she has already established herself as an elite interior players. Oklahoma State is coming off a 24-win season and NCAA tournament appearance, while Iowa State finished seventh in the conference on a 22-10 record.
Crooks's impact goes beyond scoring. Her efficiency in the paint, footwork, and ability to control tempo make her one of the most unique frontcourt players in the country. She also brings consistency, earning multiple All-Big 12 honors during her time at Iowa State.
Now, the focus shifts to what this means for Oklahoma State women's basketball.
Crooks joins a roster that is continuing to build through the transfer portal, positioning the Cowgirls as a team to watch heading into the 2026/27 NCAA season.
For Crooks, the move offers one more year to build on an already-standout college career — this time with a new program and elevated expectations.
While the AP Top 10 stayed mostly intact this week, a few programs — including the Oklahoma Sooners — are making a case for themselves as the 2025/26 NCAA women's basketball season's nonconference schedule hits its peak.
The Sooners were the only Top 10 riser in Monday's AP Poll, jumping one spot to No. 8 after taking down rivals Oklahoma State 92-70 on Saturday — a game that sent the Cowgirls out of the rankings entirely.
Bouncing back from an early season loss to No. 4 UCLA, Oklahoma's strengthening record dislodged undefeated TCU, with the Horned Frogs falling to No. 9 despite a perfect week against unranked competition.
Meanwhile, No. 1 UConn retained their crown after Saturday's top-ranked win over now-No. 19 USC, while No. 2 Texas continues to shine after humbling in-state rivals No. 15 Baylor on Sunday.
The Longhorns received eight first-place votes this week, a tick down from the last round after notching two Top 5 wins in late November.
Despite some ranked blowouts, the ACC saw the greatest movement, as No. 16 Louisville rocketed up six spots after upsetting then-No. 12 North Carolina — sending the Tar Heels skidding the same distance down to No. 18.
The SEC also saw gains, as No. 12 Kentucky and No. 14 Ole Miss both rose three spots as they creep toward the Top 10 with one loss apiece.
2025/26 AP Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll: Week 7
1. UConn (10-0, Big East)
2. Texas (12-0, SEC)
3. South Carolina (10-1, SEC)
4. UCLA (9-1, Big Ten)
5. LSU (11-0, SEC)
6. Michigan (9-1, Big Ten)
7. Maryland (12-0, Big Ten)
8. Oklahoma (11-1, SEC)
9. TCU (11-0, Big 12)
10. Iowa State (12-0, Big 12)
11. Iowa (10-1, Big Ten)
12. Kentucky (11-1, SEC)
13. Vanderbilt (10-0, SEC)
14. Ole Miss (10-1, SEC)
15. Baylor (10-2, Big 12)
16. Louisville (10-3, ACC)
17. Tennessee (7-2, SEC)
18. UNC (9-3, ACC)
19. USC (7-3, Big Ten)
20. Notre Dame (8-2, ACC)
21. Ohio State (9-1, Big Ten)
22. Washington (9-1, Big Ten)
23. Nebraska (11-0, Big Ten)
24. Michigan State (9-1, Big Ten)
25. Princeton (10-1, Ivy)
A recent string of Top 10 upsets made its mark on Monday's updated AP Top 25 Poll, as undefeated No. 1 UCLA continues holding court above the shifting chaos.
Notre Dame rose to No. 2 for the first time since 2019, buoyed by strong performances against Stanford and then-No. 21 Cal last week.
Climbing to No. 3 was Texas, who claimed the boost by ending South Carolina's multi-year SEC unbeaten streak on Sunday. As a result, the defending champion Gamecocks fell from No. 2 to No. 4.
On the other hand, No. 15 Tennessee is on the upswing, as last Thursday's upset win over UConn lifted the Vols four spots while sending the Huskies skidding from No. 5 to No. 7.
No. 20 Oklahoma State achieved the week's biggest win, however, as Saturday's 85-55 blowout victory over then-No. 12 Kansas Sate gave the Cowgirls a five-spot boost.
Teams jockey for AP Poll positions as March Madness looms
While a jump in the rankings certainly provides bragging rights, it also impacts both conference and NCAA tournament seeding as the regular season winds down.
ESPN's Bracketology currently has UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Texas taking the NCAA tournament's four No. 1 seeds. Notably, two of those teams — the Bruins and the Longhorns — are rookies in their respective conferences, showcasing significant dominance fresh out of the realignment gate.
Meanwhile, other major players like LSU, USC, and UConn still have time to pad their resumes en route to their conference showdowns, which will tip off in early March.
AP College Basketball Top 25: Week 15
1. UCLA (23-0, Big Ten)
2. Notre Dame (21-2, ACC)
3. Texas (24-2, SEC)
4. South Carolina (22-2, SEC)
5. LSU (25-1, SEC)
6. USC (21-2, Big Ten)
7. UConn (22-3, Big East)
8. Kentucky (19-3, SEC)
9. Ohio State (20-3, Big Ten)
10. NC State (19-4, ACC)
11. TCU (22-3, Big 12)
12. North Carolina (21-4, ACC)
13. Duke (19-5, ACC)
14. Kansas State (22-3, Big 12)
15. Tennessee (17-6, SEC)
16. Oklahoma (18-6, SEC)
17. Maryland (19-5, Big Ten)
18. West Virginia (19-4, Big 12)
19. Georgia Tech (20-4, ACC)
20. Oklahoma State (19-4, Big 12)
21. Alabama (20-5, SEC)
22. Michigan State (18-5, Big Ten)
23. Florida State (19-5, ACC)
24. Creighton (20-4, Big East)
25. Baylor (20-5, Big 12)