A fresh start is never just about wearing a new jersey or finding a new team to play for; it’s about finding the right fit. And Audi Crooks already has a clear idea of what that place will look like.
Nearly three weeks after announcing her decision to leave the Iowa State Cyclones and enter the transfer portal, one of the biggest names in women’s college basketball is finally opening up about what comes next. And for her, it’s not just about basketball.
“I’m looking for culture, number one, first and foremost. Somewhere with good people. You can be a good basketball player, but good quality people, good character, and great personalities are number one,” she said during a recent appearance on NBC Sports.
That alone should tell you a lot about where the 6-foot-3 center is on her journey.
Because on the court, for her, there’s very little left to prove. Audi Crooks is coming off a dominant junior season where she averaged 25.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting an elite 64.9% from the field.
Audi Crooks is still deciding where she will transfer, but she does know what she’s looking for in her next team.
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She finished second in the nation in scoring and earned Second-Team All-American honors, cementing herself as one of the most unstoppable post players in the country.
But there is more to her checklist.
“Number two, somewhere with some shooters. I need a little help from the outside to be an inside and outside threat type of team, a dual threat team,” she added.
As a Cyclone, Crooks dominated inside the paint and had to carry a heavy offensive load, which led her to post 40+ points in four games and 30+ in nine games. But now she wants balance, so while she can dominate from the inside, her teammates can be the scorers from behind the arc.
And let’s be honest, after the kind of performance we saw from her in the 2025-26 NCAA season, if she finds a team with shooters, it’s safe to assume who will dominate the league.
“Number three, somewhere that is going to push me, push me hard, and develop me into who I want to be when my name is called, hopefully here in New York,” she concluded.
Audi Crooks had the option to declare for the 2026 WNBA draft. However, she chose to return for her final year to become a better player than she is, and that’s exactly what she expects the next program she joins to help her with.
So the real question now is: who actually fits what she is looking for?
Maryland emerges as the early frontrunner in the Audi Crooks sweepstakes
According to recent reports, Crooks is set to visit the Maryland Terrapins, making them one of the first serious contenders in her transfer process. And honestly, they make sense.
Maryland is coming off a strong 24–9 season and a solid NCAA Tournament run, but there’s a clear gap in their roster. Most of their top scorers were perimeter players, and with multiple seniors moving on, the team lacks a dominant interior presence. That’s exactly where Crooks could step in and change everything.
But the Terrapins aren’t the only program in the mix. Schools like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Oklahoma Sooners, and even the Iowa Hawkeyes have all been linked to Audi Crooks at different points.
Each of these programs brings something different to the table.
While Notre Dame offers a proven big-stage program, Oklahoma gives her a chance to stay in a familiar competitive environment. Meanwhile, Iowa provides a system that will push her to be the best.
But here’s the thing: this decision isn’t just about brand names or rankings.
Crooks has already made it clear what she wants: culture, spacing, and development.
So while plenty of teams can offer exposure or NIL deals, which seems to be the major factor that drives most athletes’ decisions today, not all of them can check every box she laid out.
So now, it’s just a matter of which program can convince Audi Crooks that they’re not just a good option, but the right one.
