Audi Crooks Enters Transfer Portal, What Are Top Landing Spots for Iowa State Star?

Iowa State star Audi Crooks announced Thursday she's entering the transfer portal.

The junior center averaged 25.8 points on 64.9 percent shooting along with 7.7 rebounds in 2025-26. Her exit isn't a big shock after the Cyclones finished 22-10, losing to Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Crooks is the biggest name to enter the portal so far, and she's bound to get interest from a number of marquee programs.

TCU is a logical landing spot. Coach Mark Campbell has been aggressive in the portal in previous seasons, and he's looking to replace his top two scorers, Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez.

The same is true for LSU coach Kim Mulkey. The Tigers could use a player of Crooks' size (6'3"). Kate Koval was the only player taller than 6'2" on this year's squad.

UCLA might check the boxes more than anybody else in terms of need and prestige.

Lauren Betts, the Bruins' leading scorer (17.2) and rebounder (8.6), will be moving on to the WNBA. Crooks could immediately slot in as the starting center.

And with UCLA in the Final Four for the second straight year, coach Cori Close can make a compelling pitch about giving Crooks the chance to contend for a title while preparing her for the next level.

There could be a big wild card in the mix.

When fewer coaches are under more pressure than Kim Caldwell, signing Crooks would be a major coup to reassure fans about Tennessee's broad direction.

The Lady Vols are in the midst of an exodus after a bitterly disappointing season. They lost in the first round, and the team never recovered after Caldwell called out her players' effort level in a 93-50 February hammering at the hands of South Carolina.

If nothing else, it's readily apparent how far Tennessee has fallen, and everyone in Knoxville should feel a level of urgency. Even with the program at a relative low, star players may still be attracted to the brand and all of its illustrious history.

In general, fans can float pretty much any school in a hypothetical Crooks transfer and she'd make sense to some degree. She has the skills and the national profile to command a spot in a lot of starting lineups for 2026-27.