The stars who have to shine the brightest start showing the glimmer right from the early days. And that’s exactly the case with Aud Crooks.
For some time, NBA-WNBA stars have had their attention on the Iowa legacy. However, recently, the Iowa State Cyclones women’s basketball star has been making the news for all the good reasons.
As the federal government shutdown delays Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the junior center is stepping up for its Kossuth County community with the ‘Knock N Dash’ initiative.
Who Is Audi Crooks? Iowa State Cyclones Star Helping Her Community With SNAP Benefits Loss
Audi Crooks, a 6-foot-3 center from Algona, Iowa, is rewriting the Iowa State record books. A two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, she led the conference with 23.4 points per game in 2024-25.
Additionally, she also scored a nation-leading 820 points on 60.5% field goal shooting. Her 329 made field goals set a single-season school record, and she hit 1,000 career points in her 49th game.
That was the third-fastest in Big 12 history. Wearing No. 55 to honor her late father Jimmie and mother Michelle (a Bishop Garrigan alum), she’s carried a 67-game double-digit scoring streak into 2025-26. However, hoop fans are getting a glimpse of Iowa supremacy via Caitlin Clark’s resurfaced video.
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Audi Crooks is helping out her home community during the loss of SNAP benefits due to the federal gov shutdown.
— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) November 2, 2025
The Audi Crooks Foundation is launching Knock n Dash & delivering care packages right to people’s doors in Kossuth County. https://t.co/2XaLeSIUf1
Off the court, Crooks is tackling food insecurity sparked by the government shutdown, which halted SNAP disbursements on November 1. Through the Audi Crooks Foundation’s ‘Knock N Dash,’ she’s delivering care packages to Kossuth County doors.
Residents fill a short form on audicrooksfoundation.org, and volunteers, without judgment, drop off aid.
Audi Crooks Made It To Lisa Leslie Award
While she has been doing all that she could at such a young age, Crooks has still made it to a notable accolade.
Additionally, her on-court dominance earned her a second nod to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year preseason watch list, announced Friday by the Naismith Hall of Fame.
After finishing as a top-five finalist last year, she joins Iowa State teammates Jada Williams and Addy Brown on Naismith Starting 5 watch lists, making the Cyclones one of 17 programs with three honorees.
Her 2024-25 season included a 36-point high against No. 14 Kansas State and 27 in an NCAA win over Princeton, pushing coach Bill Fennelly to 800 career victories.