The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State women’s basketball alumni Stephanie Soares (2022-23) and Ashley Joens (2019-2023) have signed contracts to continue their respective professional careers overseas.
Soares is set to join AZS AJP Gorzow Wielskopolski in Poland while Joens has signed with Whai Basketball in New Zealand. Soares is in her first season of WNBA play with the Dallas Wings while Joens played with the Wings, Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury a season ago.ADVERTISING
Despite her shortened season due to injury in 2023-24, the Sao Paulo, Brazil, native made an immediate impact for ISU. Soares averaged 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game for the Cyclones, reaching double figures in 11 contests and recording eight double-doubles.
Her season-high of 23 points came in wins against UNI and Michigan State. Soares pulled down 20 rebounds against West Virginia, recording the sixth 20-rebound game in school history.
Soares came to Iowa State after a standout career at The Master’s University, where she was a two-time NAIA Division I Player of the Year. In 2021-22, she averaged 20.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocks, en route to leading the Mustangs to a 32-4 overall record. Soares was also named the WBCA NAIA Player of the Year.
Ashley Joens left Iowa State following one of the most decorated careers in program history. She’s a three-time recipient of the Cheryl Miller Award, a four-time unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection and a two-time WBCA All-American.
The Iowa City native, who started all 158 games in her career, finished as Iowa State’s all-time leading scorer with 3,060 career points and was just the 14th player in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history to reach 3,000 points.
She averaged 19.4 points per game in her career to break the school record and rank eighth in Big 12 history during her senior season. Joens exhibited the ability to score at all levels during her career, connecting on 344 career 3-pointers (fifth in Big 12 history) and making 740 free throws (third in Big 12 history). She shot 83.1 percent at the charity stripe.
Joens also dominated the glass, collecting 1,391 career rebounds and recording 65 career double-doubles.
In her career, Joens was recognized with 13 Big 12 Player of the Week honors, the second-most in Big 12 history behind only Baylor’s Brittney Griner.
In 2022-23, Joens poured in 21.6 points and pulled down 9.7 rebounds. She was named Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship Most Outstanding Player after averaging 26.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in leading the Cyclones to the tournament title. She scored 30 against Baylor, 22 against Oklahoma and 28 in the championship game against Texas.
