The Cyclones are set to kick off the 2025-26 season with an exhibition game against the Titans. With two teams full of veteran presence, this game will be a test of authority and chemistry.
As Iowa State welcomes the Division III University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the Cyclones should prepare for an exciting challenge. The Titans are coming off a 27-5 season in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. With this record, Oshkosh claimed the regular-season conference championship.
Regardless of home court advantage, the Titans proved that they can win anywhere, as they opened the 2024-25 season with a 17-game win streak.
Iowa State enters this exhibition after a 23-12 season; the Cyclones look to lead the Big 12 this season. Iowa State takes the No. 14 spot in the AP Preseason Poll.
Both teams come into this game with leadership losses. With the transition of former guard Emily Ryan to graduate assistant and the Titans’ loss of forward Kayce Vaile, both teams have room for new standout players.
Ryan led the team in assists the season prior with 211 and leads in steals with 60. Although not on the court, wearing a similar jersey to her past teammates, Ryan still looks to bring something to the court to help the team.
“Obviously, it’s difficult bringing in two new point guards that haven’t been in the system, but when you have [Ryan] on the sidelines helping, it makes a huge difference,” junior forward Addy Brown said. “It’s just great having someone that you’ve played with and have a relationship with who’s also been around the game a lot and has a lot of experience.”
Similar to the loss of Ryan, Oshkosh’s loss of Vaile looks to take a serious toll on the team. Vaile led the team in average points per game with 11.8, alongside ending her season with 271 rebounds and 38 blocks.
Despite both teams fighting the transition of losing key players, Iowa State and Oshkosh still have standout players to turn to for the upcoming season.
The Cyclones’ leading scorer in the 2024-25 season was junior center Audi Crooks, who averaged 23.4 points per game with a 60% field goal percentage. Another key player, Brown, averaged 15.2 points per game last season and led the team in rebounds with 268.
“This year I’m going to pride myself on being a consistent low-post presence, being very efficient and hope to contribute a lot of points,” Crooks said.
Junior guard Sammi Beyer was second to Vaile with 11 points per game and was an avid 3-pointer shooter who ended the prior season with 51 for UW Oshkosh. Alongside Beyer, senior forward Sarah Hardwick, who followed Vaile in rebounds with 159, also led in steals with 35 and had 32 blocks.
The Cyclones’ 3-point leader last season was senior guard/forward Sydney Harris, who had 61. Redshirt junior guard Kenzie Hare led Iowa State in free throws last season with a .824 free-throw percentage before an injury took her out early in the season.
The Titans’ returning free-throw leader is junior forward Mallory Hoitink, who finished the 2024-25 season with a .909 free-throw percentage.
With the addition of junior guard Jada Williams, a transfer from Arizona, Iowa State’s team gained some impressive depth. Last season, Williams averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. With former Big 12 experience, Williams looks to play a key role for the Cyclones.
“Coming in, being from a different school, now that I’m still in the Big 12, I’m super excited,” Williams said. “I think a lot of people are sleeping on us. I’m just excited to get out there with Addy [Brown] and Audi [Crooks]. I think we have a lot to prove.”
Similar to the Cyclones’ deep roster, the depth of UW Oshkosh looks to put Iowa State to the test as two other Titans stand out.
Last season, sophomore forward Paige Seckar had 120 rebounds, 27 blocks and averaged six points per game. Similar to Seckar, another all-around star for the team is senior guard Avery Poole, who had 39 3-pointers, 54 assists and averaged eight points per game last season.
The Cyclones look to take on the Titans in Hilton Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
