Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Kayde Sheaffer, Sports Reporter: Emily Ryan

As her time wearing a Cyclones jersey comes to an end, senior guard Emily Ryan has been a consistent piece to Iowa State’s time on the court. Being referenced as a leader and a role model on and off the court for the rest of the team, Ryan has proven to be a strong piece holding the Cyclones together in the past five years.

Although she will be missed next season, Ryan has been a valuable asset to the team with her strong plays, efficient ball handling and killer instincts as a point guard. Starting in 34 games this season, Ryan tallied up 331 points and averaged 9.7 per game to contribute to her overall total of 1,632 points made in her five years on the court.

Accompanied by her efficient scoring, Ryan’s strongest quality on the court was her assisting abilities, which were a strong asset for the Cyclones to accumulate points. Ryan had 211 assists this season, which contributed to her overall total of 993 assists to become the Big 12 all-time assist leader.

Ford Griffith, Sports Reporter: Audi Crooks

This decision was not a very hard one to make. A unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection and an AP Third-Team All-American, Audi Crooks continued her domination and is considered one of the best sophomores in the nation.

There were very few matchups that looked to be tough or a challenge for Crooks, which helped her reach her average of 23.4 points per game, four more than her freshman year. Not only did she score more, but she did it slightly more efficiently as well. From 57% to 60%, it’s not often that she misses a shot.

Without Crooks, it would be interesting to see where the Cyclones would have been at the end of the year. Seven different times, Crooks scored at least 30, and each one was in dominant fashion. The most memorable, though, was her 36-point outing on 77.8% shooting to take down No. 14 Kansas State in the final regular-season game of the year.

Iowa State is lucky to have Crooks back, as she announced on social media that she will not transfer and will return to the Cyclones next season. 

Most Improved Player

Sheaffer: Kelsey Joens

As the Cyclones spent a majority of the season looking for their fifth starter to accompany the team’s core four, Iowa State finally settled on sophomore guard Kelsey Joens to join the dream team, and she did not disappoint. 

Starting in the early season, Joens averaged between two and four points per game and went three games in a row with zero points. However, in a turning-point game against USC Upstate, Joens made a new season-high of 11 points due to making a season-high of three 3-point shots.

After her season-high 3-point performance, Joens only kept moving onward, tallying up at least one 3-point shot per game and ending her sophomore season with 176 points to match her freshman year overall score.

Joens’ confidence on the court was clearly recognized as she grew as a skillful player, hitting a season-best of 13 points in a game, averaging five points per game, and now sits at a much improved 43% completion rate from behind the arc.

Griffith: Kelsey Joens

If I think about this award in terms of improvement over the course of the season, it just felt right to put Joens in this spot. She received tons of praise from coaches and teammates near the end of the year for her effort being at 100% all the time.

Despite scoring just about the same amount of points per game as her freshman campaign, Joens showed improvement in various areas. Looking at the difference from non-conference play to conference play, Joens stepped up big.

Joens averaged five points and just under three rebounds over the course of the whole season, but in conference play, those numbers went up to six points and 3.7 rebounds. It was a revolving door for the start of the season, trying to figure out who would be a consistent fifth starter, but Joens solidified herself into that spot for the last part of the season.

Newcomer of The Year

Sheaffer: Reagan Wilson

In the exhibition game at the start of the season, freshman guard Reagan Wilson was an eye-catcher. She played a total of 21 minutes during her first game in Hilton Coliseum and shocked us all as she tallied up nine points and a team-high of two steals and four assists.

Coming in with a bang in the early season, it was hard to miss Wilson on the court, as her confidence was clear from a mile away, her vocal skills to call plays were heard from around the arena and her clear talent was just the cherry on top.

Although we saw less of her throughout the season when her name was called, she was a solid choice to get the job done. When she went a couple of games without setting foot on the court, her presence on the bench as the ultimate hype woman was beautiful to see as her clear love for Iowa State was shown throughout.

Wilson ended the season with a season-best of 10 points in the game against Arizona State and ended with a combined overall total of 54 points made in her freshman year.

We have seen her skill only evolve on the court, and with some of the best players in the Big 12 mentoring her, I think she has a lot more talent under her sleeve and I can’t wait to see what she will bring to the table next season.

Griffith: Sydney Harris

In a season that saw six new faces, four being transfers and two freshmen, it was certain that others would need to step up big. TCU transfer Sydney Harris is the name that first comes to mind. She was not only the 3-point shooter with the most volume, but also the most efficient, shooting 46% from beyond the arc.

After Kenzie Hare was declared out for the season with an injury, someone else was going to need to step up on the scoring end, and Harris did a good job answering that call. 

Harris was always a microwave off the bench, providing some very hot shooting streaks when the offense slowed down. She hit a 3-pointer in 27 of her 34 games played and had a season-high of five 3’s in one game against Kansas. 

Also, for what it’s worth, Harris plays with a sense of swagger and impressive confidence that every team needs.

Most Surprising Player

Sheaffer: Sydney Harris

As they all say, third time’s the charm, and after two previous schools, I think junior guard/forward Harris has finally found her team. 

Harris, I believe, completed the Iowa State dream team as she was a comfort person from behind the arc. Although she started slow at the start of the season, Harris made her presence known as she tallied up a team-high and season-best 24 points against Arizona after making five 3-point shots. 

Quickly becoming known as the sixth player, Harris always surprised me when she made a beautiful basket either from behind the arc or in a variety of areas because her form is always flawless.

Harris ended her first season at Iowa State with 260 points, a large upgrade from her previous total of 151 points during her time at TCU. She did it alongside a 46% completion rate from behind the arc and an average of 7.6 points per game.

Griffith: Kenzie Hare

This was a tough one for me to choose, and although Hare only played in 10 games, it felt like she was the only one I felt like I could put here. It’s a shame she only played in 10 games because Hare could go on nice scoring streaks and run the offense well alongside Ryan.

The Marquette transfer had seven steals through 10 games and averaged eight points, good for the fourth-highest on the team. 

The surprise from her was the style she played with. Although everyone on the team is a ‘basketball player,’ Hare is one of the few players I would call a ‘hooper.’ She plays fast, smoothly and with an aggression that some people tend to lack.

I think next season when Hare is healthy, many people will see what was missing with her on the sideline. It stinks that Ryan is graduating, but I think Hare can do a good job running the offense and putting the ball in the basket.

Most Exciting to watch

Sheaffer: Addy Brown

Coming off a killer freshman year, there was no doubt that Addy Brown’s sophomore season would be anything but impressive. Brown tallied up an overall total of 532 points during her second year and averaged 15 points per game, a massive improvement from her freshman year, where she ended with 429. 

Brown had not only improved as a player, but her unlimited ability to do anything on the court is nothing but impressive. She has the ability to make any basket from any mark on the court, play multiple positions, make calls and can always be reliable to get the job done.

Heading into the Big 12 Tournament, I had nothing but impressive thoughts about her, but the thing about Brown is that she can always top her last performance and you undeniably have no idea what she is capable of with a basketball in her hand.

Dropping 41 points against Arizona State in the Big 12 Tournament should be nothing short of impressive but not out of character for Brown. Creating a new preliminary round record, earning the third-most points scored in a Big 12 Tournament game and scoring the most points by an Iowa State player is nothing but jaw dropping as her unlimited amount of plays, her inability to miss and just being one of the most supportive teammates sums up just what kind of player Brown is.

Only improving from her freshman year, there is no chance that Brown’s talent is ever unnoticed as her striking performance on the court always keeps the audience on the edge of their seat, and is made for the record books.

Griffith: Addy Brown

Head coach Bill Fennelly was not lying when he said that Brown is one of the most skilled players in the country because when she’s playing well, she is hard to stop. 

I talked about the confidence that Harris has, but there might not be anyone in the Big 12 more confident than Brown after she makes a play. In a 13-point loss to No. 9 TCU, Brown put up 31 points, six rebounds and five assists to keep the Cyclones in the game until late.

In what may have been the best performance I have seen live, Brown put up 41 points in the Big 12 Tournament, the third most in a Big 12 Tournament game ever. She is a forward who can handle and pass like a guard, a combination that doesn’t come around all the time.

Brown does it all and she finished the season averaging 15 points, 5.5 assists and just under eight rebounds. The duo of Brown and Crooks is like having two first options, and the potential for the season is unlimited. 

Brown was named an All-Big 12 second-team player, but I would not be shocked if the Cyclones had two players on the first-team level next year.