AMES, Iowa — Iowa State’s start center Audi Crooks is coming back to campus this new season with a new accessory. A gold medal.

She was one of 12 women, including Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke, that represented Team USA at the FIBA Women’s Americup this summer. They got the come-from-behind victory against Brazil in the championship game in Chile on July 6. The Americans secured a direct ticket to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Crooks played in six of the tournament games with 23 total points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals.

“Not a lot of people can say that they won a gold medal, especially for Team USA, especially over the 4th of July,” Crooks said. “So it was just something that was really special. I think it’s a goal pretty much for everyone ever to represent their country. So just really proud, just making the team and hearing the anthem play. I almost got a little bit emotional, you know, I heard that song so many times. But to be actually representing the country and playing against other countries on a really big stage just meant a lot.”

And her Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly made the trip all the way to South America to watch her play. 

“When you sit there, it’s like watching one of your own, you see you’re standing there. They’re playing the national anthem, and she’s got a gold medal. That’s a pretty cool moment,” he said.

“Gratitude was just the main thing, regardless of the result. It just really kind of put an exclamation point on everything that I’ve been doing, all the work that it took to get to that place, to be able to make that team,” Crooks said. “Also, it wasn’t just me. Truly this gold medal belongs to everybody here at Iowa State that prepared me for that.”

Crooks is an upcoming junior now and is coming off her best season at Iowa State. She led the Big 12 Conference in scoring with over 23 points a game this past season. The Cyclones made their sixth straight NCAA tournament but was eliminated in the first round by Michigan. This year they hope they have the talent and experience to go even further.

Crooks’ experience this summer will advance her game in Ames. In fact, her ISU teammate Addy Brown was also invited to the Team USA training camp over in Colorado. Brown hurt her ankle there, so didn’t make the team, but the experience can only help. 

“Take the lessons and the things that I learned from over there, from being coached by somebody else, from being surrounded by different personalities, different teammates and trying to bring that and a new level of intensity here to this team,” she said.

“I asked Audi, I said, ‘write down anything that you like. Is there a play that you like? Is there terminology that you like?’” Fennelly said.

“I just want to keep stacking good days and when in this matter was definitely a good day. So just kind of continue to build off of that,” Crooks added. 

Up next, Crooks said she needs to find a home for her gold medal so she can stop carrying it around everywhere. She’s hoping her mom or grandma can help find a frame or case for it.

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