AMES – Following a dominant exhibition and a fall filled with practices and workouts, the basketball season has officially arrived. Iowa State opens its season Monday at 11 a.m. at home against Chicago State.

The Cyclones enter the season ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25 Poll, tied for the second-highest preseason ranking in school history. In the 2023-24 season, Iowa State lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Stanford.

Sophomore Audi Crooks leads the Cyclones after a historic freshman season. She averaged 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, helping Iowa State reach a 21-12 record. 

Heading into the regular season, the expectations for the Cyclones are through the roof against some of the smaller non-conference opponents. They start it off against Chicago State, who went 1-26 a year ago.

The Cougars’ lone win came against Kuyper College, a school with less than 300 total students enrolled. Chicago State gave up over 100 points six different times last season, and has seven freshmen on the roster to start the year.

Iowa State played every available player in its exhibition against Central College, and should have the chance to do so again Monday. Fifth year senior guard Emily Ryan had limited minutes in the exhibition, and assuming she is still on that restriction, a few players will have the chance to step up and prove they deserve to be in the rotation.

Freshman guards Reagan Wilson and Aili Tanke both knocked down three 3-pointers in the exhibition and will both look to earn playing time to start the year.

Iowa State takes on Chicago State in its season opener at 11 a.m. Monday from Hilton Coliseum. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.