ISU’s Audi Crooks Takes National Player Of The Week Honors

Iowa State University star Audi Crooks was named the Associated Press NCAA Women’s College Basketball National Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2025-2026 season. The junior center put up record-setting numbers in leading the Cyclones to two more blowout wins. Crooks also took home Big 12 Player of the Week honors.

Audi Crooks’ Record-Setting Week

Against Valparaiso (0-3) last Wednesday, Crooks set a Cyclone single-game scoring record by putting up 43 points while only playing 19 minutes due to illness. She added seven rebounds, two assists, and a block. Crooks is the only player in the last 25 years to score more than 40 points in less than 20 minutes. ISU won 97-50.

Crooks followed that up with a perfect night from the floor against Norfolk State (2-3) in a 98-52 Cyclone victory. Crooks went 8-for-8 from the field, scoring 19 points. She added ten rebounds, four assists, and five blocks in 26 minutes. For the week, Crooks shot an amazing 83.9% from the field and averaged 31 points, 8.5 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.

Iowa State has started the season 5-0, and they are currently ranked 12th in the AP Top 25. Iowa State will make the short trip south to Des Moines on Thursday for a matchup against Drake (1-2).

A Strong Runner-Up

University of Connecticut sophomore Forward Sarah Strong was named the runner-up. She tied her career-high with 29 points and set a career-high in assists with seven in a big win over Ohio State (2-1). Strong also had 13 rebounds, five steals, and three blocks in the win. She played just 20 minutes against Loyola Chicago (1-2), but she still tallied 11 points, three rebounds, four assists, four steals, and three blocks in an 85-31 beatdown of the Ramblers.

UConn is 4-0 on the season and currently sits atop the AP Top 25. The Huskies will host sixth-ranked Michigan (3-0) on Friday night.