Audi Crooks has dominated women’s college basketball this season. Averaging nearly 29 points per game, she leads the Iowa State Cyclones with veteran composure.
In her junior year, one would say that my saying that would be apropos. I mean, hell, her team is undefeated as of this writing, sitting at 13-0. So, how does a juggernaut of a squad dominate this way? Luckily for you, like DX, I’m here to break it all down.
Audi Crooks is one of a kind
Crooks is one of the most unique players you’ll ever see in basketball. Her wide base, which is accompanied by her 6’3″ stature, makes her a tough cover for any defense. In her third year of play, she has increased her scoring output by about 4.9 points per game on average each season.
She also happens to be logging fewer minutes this season at 26 minutes per game than last at 29 minutes per game. That means she’s actually doing much more on the court with less time. Some of that has to do with the wide margins of victory in many of the Cyclones’ games. When you handle business and put teams away early, you can take your hard hat off early. That’s exactly what Crooks has been able to do this season, and it’ll pay off as March Madness approaches.
As for her future, it’s clear that the WNBA has to be in the cards. The league now features a wide array of styles: Caitlin Clark’s sharpshooting, Angel Reese’s rebounding, Paige Bueckers’ playmaking and A’ja Wilson’s versatility. Yet, it still hasn’t seen a talent like Audi Crooks; she is bound to be a match-up nightmare in the paint.
Audi Crooks’ cultural impact
What’s so amazing about Crooks off the court is that she is someone who, optically, many wouldn’t put in a basketball box. Yes, she looks totally different than everyone else. Our myopic views of what fit is and can be are pretty narrow. What we see from athletes like Crooks is that maintaining this size in this fashion has been a benefit to her on her athletic path.
The beauty in that is Crooks will continue to be a great example for other women in sports. She’s widening the image of what a women’s basketball player can be. I think about past NBA players like Eddy Curry, Tractor Traylor, or Nikola Jokic—none fit the typical athletic silhouette, yet each built a legitimate, even legendary, career.
There’s a cultural impact that Crooks will have. It’ll do wonders for increasing conversations around inclusivity, which is something sorely needed in our society, especially in this country. I cannot wait for her to declare for the WNBA Draft. As far as I’m concerned, the league is already on notice. And with JuJu Watkins on deck within the next couple of years, the league’s newest expansion teams, it’s all becoming an embarrassment of riches. And for women’s sports, that’s the type of problem that you want to have.