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.
