Oct 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) talks to media during the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Iowa State women’s basketball landed its first addition out of the transfer portal on Wednesday in former Arizona guard Jada Williams.
The Cyclones beat out Iowa, Baylor and TCU among others to land the former McDonalds all-American.
“It’s a great fit for me,” Williams said. “I think that, with the pieces around me, we’re going to do phenomenal things this year. For me, I’m super blessed that they allowed me to join a tight-knit circle, which not everybody’s a fit. For them to think that, and then for me to feel the same thing, it’s a blessing.”
Williams has been wanting to feel that way, and put her name into the transfer portal after two seasons at Arizona.
“I prayed about feeling this type of feeling again, and kind of being in a situation where people are likeminded around me,” Williams said. “It’s somewhere that feels like home. It’s close back to Kansas City. I’ve got family going to Iowa State next year. I think it’s a perfect fit.”
Williams was rated as the No. 21 prospect and was a five-star in the 2023 recruiting class that also contained Addy Brown, Audi Crooks, Kelsey Joens and Arianna Jackson.
Brown grew up playing against Williams on their AAU teams while they were still in elementary school and the pair were on the same McDonald’s All-American team.
“I’ve played with and against Addy (Brown) for a long time and I’ve been in the same gym as Audi (Crooks) a lot,” Williams said. “We’ve been talking a ton, kind of setting goals and things of that nature. I’m coming in hungry and I think they’re just as hungry as I am.”
“Our goal is a national championship, for sure,” Williams said.
The Kansas City native averaged 12.7 points per game at Arizona as well as 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
Williams is a fast guard that finishes strongly at the rim, and can shoot the three. She’s active on the defensive side of the ball in steals, averaging 1.6 per game in her last season at Arizona.
Williams is currently the 13th scholarship for the roster in Ames. Women’s programs are allowed to use 15 scholarships, but Iowa State typically hovers at 13 or lower depending on the situation.
It isn’t concrete that Iowa State’s roster for the 2025-26 season is done, but there may be another departure if the Cyclones add other pieces in the portal.
“We know that our end goal is to win a national championship,” Williams said. “I think we all have that goal in mind, and throughout the summer and before the season, I think that’s what we’re working towards… We’ve just got to keep the main thing the main thing, and I think the culture will take care of a lot of things that come with college basketball.”
