Audi Crooks' gold medal experience could yield more Iowa State women's basketball success

AMES When Iowa State womens basketball player Audi Crooks wrapped up her first practice of the summer on July 14, her teammates with the Cyclones had a surprise for her.

Waiting for Crooks after the workout was a cookie cake and red, white and blue balloons.I was impressed, Crooks said.

Not many of us can keep surprises.This was certainly a moment worth remembering for the Cyclone star, and her teammates made sure she could celebrate in style.

Crooks has had a busy summer helping the United States to a gold medal at the 2025 FIBA Womens AmeriCup.It means a lot, Crooks said.

Not a lot of people can say that they have a gold medal.Crooks, one of Iowa States biggest stars the last two seasons, does now.

The Cyclones' post player has already had a decorated basketball career, guiding her high school team, Bishop Garrigan in Algona, to back-to-back state championships.

Crooks led the Big 12 Conference last season and took Iowa State to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons.Her domination as one of the best centers in college basketball caught the attention of USA Basketball officials, who reached out to her about trying out for the team along with fellow Cyclone Addy Brown.

Crooks said the email was accidentally sent to the wrong email address.When Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly forwarded her the invitation, Crooks jumped at the opportunity.

Crooks previously tried out for a 17U USA team but didnt make it.

Ever since, she had her sights set on getting on a roster and winning a gold medal for her country.It was really eye-opening for me at that time to see what it takes and that was before I even stepped foot on a college campus, Crooks said.Crooks and Brown both attended the team's training camp that took place June 16-24 at the U.S.

Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

It featured 21 womens college players vying for spots on the 12-player roster.

Brown, who suffered an ankle injury early on, didnt make the team.Crooks did.It just kind of goes to show the elevation of my game and my personal development on the floor and off the floor and how that translates and is now being recognized, Crooks said.More: Iowa State women's basketball star Audi Crooks wins gold medal at FIBA Women's AmeriCupCrooks averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game during the AmeriCup.

In the finals, a 92-84 win over Brazil in Santiago, Chile, earlier this month, she logged six minutes, connected on her lone shot from the field and made both of her free throws.

Fennelly went to the event to cheer Crooks on and was impressed by her play.I think the minutes that she played were positive, Fennelly said.

She impacted the team.Had it not been for an injury, Fennelly believes Brown could have also had an impact on the squad.

Brown has played a substantial role for the Cyclones over the last two seasons and is one of the team's most versatile players.I think she would have been great, Fennelly said.Crooks made the most of the opportunity, helping a roster full of some of the top talent in womens college basketball to a gold medal.

Fennelly hopes it continues to have an impact on Crooks.

He encouraged the junior to write down any plays or anything else that she liked with USA Basketball that the Cyclones could incorporate moving forward.More: Macy Comito combines her love of basketball and Iowa State with plans to play for CyclonesThe experience, though, was the most valuable part of the trip.Ive been a part of USA basketball in the past, Fennelly said.

And I give away a lot of my stuff.

I dont give away my USA basketball stuff.Crooks said the time playing with USA Basketball helped her prepare for the upcoming season.

She and her temporary teammates battled through the tryout process.

Once they made the team, they played in games daily for up to four days to prepare for the event.

The hard work will hopefully pay off for Crooks with the Cyclones later this year."I definitely feel like I'm continuing to progress, and the goal is, each year, to just feel better and feel like I'm in a better spot that I was the previous summer and I definitely feel that way now," Crooks said.

While Crooks has already done a lot on the court, this may be the biggest honor, Fennelly said.

"I think it's got to be probably one of the more major accomplishments she's had up to this point and maybe for her whole life," Fennelly said.

"I don't know many people that have a gold medal."This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State star Audi Crooks gets valuable experience in gold medal win.

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