Audi Crooks had a simple checklist for her next destination. Good culture, “somewhere with some shooters,” and finally a team and coach that are going to push her to the limit. Crooks left Iowa State as she felt to have done her best to elevate that program and yet they did not go beyond the second round in the NCAA tournament. “I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here,” she wrote. Just a few days after outlining her criteria for a new team, the high-scoring center has finally announced her next team.

Crooks was arguably the best player in this transfer portal. She ranked second in Division I in both scoring (25.8 PPG) and field-goal percentage (64.9) this past season. For her college career, she has averaged 22.8 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot 61.1% from the field and is a beast in the paint. Now, Oklahoma State acquires one of the best players in the country. 

Crooks announced her commitment via a video with her dancing in the OSU jersey on the song “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston. The video also includes Cowgirls’ boss Jacie Hoyt’s cameo. Crooks’ announcement has immediately sent shockwaves across WBB fans as the prospect of her teaming up with Liv McGill has them excited. 

Audi Crooks and Liv McGill Team Up and Fans See Something Special

“This has to be the most groundbreaking commitment in Women’s Hoops History right? Her and @livmcgill23? Incredible stuff,” wrote a fan. “Liv McGill and Audi Crooks 👀👀,” pitched in another. 

The Cowgirls have added some prominent guards in this portal class, led by Florida transfer Liv McGill of Florida, who averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists last season. She was arguably one of the most exciting and stylish players to watch in the country and now she gets inside support in the form of Crooks. The 5’9 guard is an elite passer and scorer.

While her three-point shooting is a work in progress (shot 26.4% last year), it is something she can improve on as Crooks gets some defenders off her. The two teaming up could form an exciting duo that could lead to more fans. 

 

“First they pick up Liv McGill, now they got my fave….. consider me tuned in,” wrote a fan. In the days where NIL drives the team, every team needs fans and attention. McGill and Crooks are two of the most popular prospects next season and will help them fill some seats at the Gallagher-Iba Arena. They averaged just more than 3000 per game in a stadium that has a capacity of more than 13,500. Beyond just the two pairing up, Crooks’ addition might have also made Oklahoma State a contender in the Big 12.

“Latest addition in ‘The Super Team,’” wrote one. “Crooks and Liv… might be a dark horse team ain’t gone lie definitely see them finishing top 2 in the Big 12 with TCU at 1.” They finished 12-6 in the conference and 24-10 overall while falling to UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But the program has made some major moves in the portal to elevate this team like McGill and Crooks.

Beyond those two, coach Hoyt has also added the Division II National Player of the Year, Talexa Weeter, from Fort Hays State, where she averaged 27.5 points per game last year. She lost 9 players in the transfer portal and is rebuilding from scratch. So, they might take some time to click and buy into her style. 

They were top 40 in 3-point percentage while shooting 40% of their shots from beyond the arc. However, the team struggled on defense, conceding 64.2 points per game, which ranked 174th in the country. With Crooks’ defense still a work in progress, Hoyt will need to find solutions if they have to be contenders in the Big 12. 

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