AMES — The Iowa State women’s basketball team is set to welcome back six players for the upcoming 2024-25 basketball season after a second-round finish in the NCAA tournament a season prior.
Coming off the best Iowa State season as a freshman in program history, sophomore center Audi Crooks hopes to have the same impact. Last season, Crooks led the team with an average of 19.2 points per game and created a new record by scoring 512 points in a season.
Although she had a great freshman season, Crooks looks to top her successes and improve her skill set in the upcoming season.
“I would really like to win the Big 12 championship this year,” Crooks said. “I want to be better percentage-wise from the free throw line and have a higher field goal percentage as well.”
Crooks played all 33 games last season and finished her freshman year by becoming Iowa State’s first women’s basketball freshman All-American.
Joining Crooks is sophomore forward Addy Brown, who returns after earning an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. As a freshman, Brown had over 400 points, 250 rebounds, and 150 assists.
“We have a lot more weapons this year,” Brown said. “Adding the transfers we brought in, the pieces we were missing along with having Audi [Crooks] returning on the inside, will add a force that will give the defense a struggle and then leave our shooters open.”
Senior guard Emily Ryan is returning for her fifth season after playing only 24 games last year due to an injury. Ryan finished her season with an average of 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and a team-high 6.9 assists.
“We had a good end to the year last year but we ended earlier than we wanted to,” Ryan said. “Using that as motivation to show up every day, do the dirty work and put ourselves in the position to make that Sweet 16 or have the opportunity to take it one step further.”
Known as one of Iowa State’s top perimeter defenders, sophomore guard Arianna Jackson will return after playing 32 games the previous season. After Ryan stepped down with an injury, Jackson was reliant on filling the role early on in her college career. She finished the season with an average of 4.8 points, 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game.
“Coming into this season it’s even more exciting, especially playing the level of teams we are up against,” Jackson said. “It’s just a great opportunity to be able to guard some of the top offensive people out there, so I think it’s a really great experience that I’m just happy to be a part of.”
After being a part of the exciting season last year, sophomore guard Kelsey Joens returns for the 2024-25 season. Joens finished her freshman year second on the team for free throw percentage at 85.7%, ending with a total of 176 points at an average of 5.3 points per game.
Although having a great first season at Iowa State, Joens hopes to fix the little mistakes to make a more impactful season.
“I’m constantly in the gym, doing the little things,” Joens said. “Whether that be ball handling or extra shots to help make a big difference in our game.”
Previously being redshirted last season, sophomore forward Alisa Williams will look to add a big impact on this team. Williams played her first season at Louisiana State University, where she played only for 58 minutes. Although she was only there for a short time, she scored a total of 18 points and 20 rebounds.
The 2024-25 season begins with an exhibition against Central College on Oct. 20 in Ames. The Cyclones have made five straight NCAA tournament appearances and all 22 school appearances have been under Fennelly.
