NIL and the Portal

[acoustimac]

I usually am in agreement with you but I'm going to take off my Cardinal and Gold glass and look at a few things from a pure numbers perspective.

Audi: increased her scoring but she also put up nearly 97 more shots than last year and 63 more FT too which led to that . Defensively she still has some work to do and needs to shoot a better FT% for as much as she gets fouled

Addy: saw an increase in points but a slight dip in rebounds and 3pt%. The total stats are very similar to her freshman year. Still a heck of a player but she didn't make a big jump in production

K Joens: played the same number of minutes as last year although saw a bump in minutes later in the season. down slightly in about every statistical category but she is trending the right way with more playing time

AJ: I love her game but she needs to be more selfish sometimes and shoot the damn ball. She didn't make a big improvement statistically either this season.

These 4 are the key to success next season. Audi is already and an elite level and Addy is not far behind but Jackson and Joens have to take a big step forward in their production and hit some open looks they get when the defense is locked in on Audi and Addy.

Agree 100% with your comments. These players improved in many ways, but always room for growth. And imagine…they are just in their second year of playing college ball and one of them is an all American. IF the staff is able to continue their growth AND add some key players to help them…good things will come.

 

[BCClone]

I just respond to the haters and comments that have little merit. I get tired of the baseless claims people continue to make about the players and coaches. What those claims typically really amount to are just attacks on CBF because they don’t like him.

I like Bill but his O hadn’t changed since he’s been here no matter the players. How’s that hating on him? Some think changing things up will get more wins some seasons.

 

[Three4Cy]

I usually am in agreement with you but I'm going to take off my Cardinal and Gold glass and look at a few things from a pure numbers perspective.

Audi: increased her scoring but she also put up nearly 97 more shots than last year and 63 more FT too which led to that . Defensively she still has some work to do and needs to shoot a better FT% for as much as she gets fouled

Addy: saw an increase in points but a slight dip in rebounds and 3pt%. The total stats are very similar to her freshman year. Still a heck of a player but she didn't make a big jump in production

K Joens: played the same number of minutes as last year although saw a bump in minutes later in the season. down slightly in about every statistical category but she is trending the right way with more playing time

AJ: I love her game but she needs to be more selfish sometimes and shoot the damn ball. She didn't make a big improvement statistically either this season.

These 4 are the key to success next season. Audi is already and an elite level and Addy is not far behind but Jackson and Joens have to take a big step forward in their production and hit some open looks they get when the defense is locked in on Audi and Addy.

She put up more shots because she played more minutes this year and we played two more games than last year (33 in 23/24 vs 35 in 24/25). She played 863 minutes in 2023-2024 and 1025 in 2024-2025. So, by playing more minutes and two more games, I would expect her to take more shots. She is 10th in the NCAA this year in field goal percentage and # 1 in the Big12.

 

[CYdTracked]

Agree 100% with your comments. These players improved in many ways, but always room for growth. And imagine…they are just in their second year of playing college ball and one of them is an all American. IF the staff is able to continue their growth AND add some key players to help them…good things will come.

I think the biggest step forward as a team they can make is more emphasis on the defensive end. Other than AJ and Joens who do a pretty good job defending 1 on 1 we don't rotate help well at times and Audi is pretty much stationary under the basket so teams get a lot of open 3's or drives to the basket on us. There was a time we pretty much played a 2-3 zone nearly all game and I wonder if we need to go back to some of that more or maybe some kind of matchup zone where Audi can still camp out in the lane.

The other thing is just getting some consistency out of the roster in general. We know most games we are going to get 20+ from Audi and 15 from Addy although Addy at times had some rough nights where getting around 10 was a challenge where she'd shoot 2-11 or 4-13. She'd still get her boards and assists but if both Audi and Addy were not combining for about 40-45 points someone else needed to be having a hot night and that is where we ran into problems this year because we didn't have a consistent 3rd or 4th scorer like we did in Belanger last year. Would love to see AJ and Joens be more aggressive looking for their shot and have the confidence to take it when they have a look as both I think are capable of knocking down shots when the defense collapses on Audi and Addy.

 

[Jnecker4cy]

I like Bill but his O hadn’t changed since he’s been here no matter the players. How’s that hating on him? Some think changing things up will get more wins some seasons.

Not true. His early years the offense was more spread, we ran the floor. His offense has changes over the last decade or so.

 

[BCClone]

Not true. His early years the offense was more spread, we ran the floor. His offense has changes over the last decade or so.

I think he still wants to but there is more athleticism in WBB now and that has held the running back. B12 was more ploddy early on, it’s become quicker.

 

[ZorkClone]

I think the biggest step forward as a team they can make is more emphasis on the defensive end. Other than AJ and Joens who do a pretty good job defending 1 on 1 we don't rotate help well at times and Audi is pretty much stationary under the basket so teams get a lot of open 3's or drives to the basket on us. There was a time we pretty much played a 2-3 zone nearly all game and I wonder if we need to go back to some of that more or maybe some kind of matchup zone where Audi can still camp out in the lane.

The other thing is just getting some consistency out of the roster in general. We know most games we are going to get 20+ from Audi and 15 from Addy although Addy at times had some rough nights where getting around 10 was a challenge where she'd shoot 2-11 or 4-13. She'd still get her boards and assists but if both Audi and Addy were not combining for about 40-45 points someone else needed to be having a hot night and that is where we ran into problems this year because we didn't have a consistent 3rd or 4th scorer like we did in Belanger last year. Would love to see AJ and Joens be more aggressive looking for their shot and have the confidence to take it when they have a look as both I think are capable of knocking down shots when the defense collapses on Audi and Addy.

I agree Audi should at least be made to stop drives to the basket, she is already under it 75% of the time.

I disagree with the second point. I've seen this sentiment a lot, but scoring was not our problem at all. We scored the most PPG since the 2018-19 season and the second most ever for ISU as far as I can tell. It pretty clear that we need to up our game defensively and focus on good passes to limit turnovers.

 

[Joseph Hathaway]

Is anyone in the portal yet?

 

[CycloneBob]

After watching some of the OU vs IA game, I came away envious of OU's athleticism, quickness, and up tempo offense - sure was entertaining as well as productive. I'm not the expert on how they might get there, but sure would like to see ISU add a good measure of athleticism into the plan.

 

[OWLCITYCYFAN]

Is anyone in the portal yet?

Per On3, as of approximately 8am CST on 3/26/25, no WBB players from ISU have entered.

On3 2024-2025 Women's Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

Here is where On3 will keep a running list of each women's college basketball player who enters the portal and where they eventually end up.

www.on3.com

BIG 12​

Arizona

Katarina Knezevic, 6-0, F, Fr. (2.8 ppg)

Skylar Jones, 6-0, G, Soph. (10.7 ppg, 1.6 spg)

Breya Cunningham, 6-4, F, Soph. (11 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.3 spg)

Jada Williams, 5-8, G, Soph. (12.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg)

Arizona State

Mallory Miller, 6-4, F, Soph. (3.2 ppg)

Kadidia Toure, 6-3, F, Jr. (5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg – 2023-24)

Morasha Wiggins, 6-0, G, Sr. (3 ppg — 6 games in 2023-24)

Kennedy Fauntleroy, 5-7, G, Jr. (8.7 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.6 spg)

Tyi Skinner, 5-5, G, Sr. (16.8 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 38% 3-pt)

Jalyn Brown, 6-1, G, Jr. (18 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg)

BYU

Amari Whiting, 5-10, G, Soph. (10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.8 apg) → Oklahoma State

Kailey Woolston, 5-11, G, RS Fr. (13.3 ppg, 47% 3-pt – 2023-24)

Cincinnati

Aicha Dia, 6-0, G, Jr. (1.7 ppg)

Brianna Byars, 5-11, F, Soph. (2 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

Abby Holtman, 5-10, G, Soph. (2.4 ppg)

A’riel Jackson, 5-9, G, Jr. (6.9 ppg, 1.1 spg)

Colorado

Lova Lagerlid, 6-0, G, Fr, (0.7 rpg – 3 games)

Houston

Kiera Edmonds, 6-2, F, So. (8.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg – 2023-24 on Wagner)

Kansas

Freddie Wallace, 6-2, F, Jr. (DNP)

McKenzie Smith, 6-0, F, So. (1.3 ppg – 2023-24)

Zoe Canfield, 5-11, G, Fr. (1.7 ppg)

Carla Osma, 6-0, G, Fr. (2.2 ppg)

Oklahoma State

Brenna Butler, 5-6, G, Soph. (0.4 ppg – 9 games)

UCF

Laila Jewett, 5-10, G, Jr. (8.3 ppg, 3.4 apg – 2023-24) → Georgetown

Kaitlin Peterson, 5-9, G, Sr. (21.4 ppg, 2.1 spg)

Utah

Nene Sow, 6-8, C, Sr. (0.7 ppg – 9 games)

 

[nfrine]

After watching some of the OU vs IA game, I came away envious of OU's athleticism, quickness, and up tempo offense - sure was entertaining as well as productive. I'm not the expert on how they might get there, but sure would like to see ISU add a good measure of athleticism into the plan.

And one of our former recruits, Aubrey, played a total of 4 minutes in a blowout.

 

[acoustimac]

I like Bill but his O hadn’t changed since he’s been here no matter the players. How’s that hating on him? Some think changing things up will get more wins some seasons.

Can’t disagree in some ways. I always thought (back in the Kelsey Bolte days) having shooters go to a corner and stand was a bit unproductive. Many of the outcomes kind of showed that? I have to admit there is “more” movement today than back then, but many things only change to suit the player on hand. Maybe that’s good logic? Before Audi we hadn’t had a good post since Pop (we didn’t have Soares around long enough to really count)…and she was really a strong forward. The offense has changed into (a) feed the post and (b) this year we’ve seen Audi dish back out more effectively. So, I think the offense has changed to fit the talent on hand and we need more diverse talent on hand. When I watch the point guard from Tennessee I see someone who can hit from all ranges and isn’t just a three point bomber. If she pans out maybe that will add another degree of diversity to the offense. Would sure be nice.

 

[acoustimac]

After watching some of the OU vs IA game, I came away envious of OU's athleticism, quickness, and up tempo offense - sure was entertaining as well as productive. I'm not the expert on how they might get there, but sure would like to see ISU add a good measure of athleticism into the plan.

So impressed with the other Iowan on OU's team - Sahara Williams. She’s a stud.

 

[acoustimac]

Per On3, as of approximately 8am CST on 3/26/25, no WBB players from ISU have entered.

On3 2024-2025 Women's Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

Here is where On3 will keep a running list of each women's college basketball player who enters the portal and where they eventually end up.

www.on3.com

BIG 12​

Arizona

Katarina Knezevic, 6-0, F, Fr. (2.8 ppg)

Skylar Jones, 6-0, G, Soph. (10.7 ppg, 1.6 spg)

Breya Cunningham, 6-4, F, Soph. (11 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.3 spg)

Jada Williams, 5-8, G, Soph. (12.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg)

Arizona State

Mallory Miller, 6-4, F, Soph. (3.2 ppg)

Kadidia Toure, 6-3, F, Jr. (5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg – 2023-24)

Morasha Wiggins, 6-0, G, Sr. (3 ppg — 6 games in 2023-24)

Kennedy Fauntleroy, 5-7, G, Jr. (8.7 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.6 spg)

Tyi Skinner, 5-5, G, Sr. (16.8 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 38% 3-pt)

Jalyn Brown, 6-1, G, Jr. (18 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg)

BYU

Amari Whiting, 5-10, G, Soph. (10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.8 apg) → Oklahoma State

Kailey Woolston, 5-11, G, RS Fr. (13.3 ppg, 47% 3-pt – 2023-24)

Cincinnati

Aicha Dia, 6-0, G, Jr. (1.7 ppg)

Brianna Byars, 5-11, F, Soph. (2 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

Abby Holtman, 5-10, G, Soph. (2.4 ppg)

A’riel Jackson, 5-9, G, Jr. (6.9 ppg, 1.1 spg)

Colorado

Lova Lagerlid, 6-0, G, Fr, (0.7 rpg – 3 games)

Houston

Kiera Edmonds, 6-2, F, So. (8.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg – 2023-24 on Wagner)

Kansas

Freddie Wallace, 6-2, F, Jr. (DNP)

McKenzie Smith, 6-0, F, So. (1.3 ppg – 2023-24)

Zoe Canfield, 5-11, G, Fr. (1.7 ppg)

Carla Osma, 6-0, G, Fr. (2.2 ppg)

Oklahoma State

Brenna Butler, 5-6, G, Soph. (0.4 ppg – 9 games)

UCF

Laila Jewett, 5-10, G, Jr. (8.3 ppg, 3.4 apg – 2023-24) → Georgetown

Kaitlin Peterson, 5-9, G, Sr. (21.4 ppg, 2.1 spg)

Utah

Nene Sow, 6-8, C, Sr. (0.7 ppg – 9 games)

No news is good news on departures…like others I’m patiently waiting for incoming news, but that might take a while.

 

[Tpups21]

No news is good news on departures…like others I’m patiently waiting for incoming news, but that might take a while.

Jada Williams would be a great addition at PG. Probably a long shot.

 

[throwittoblythe]

No news is good news on departures…like others I’m patiently waiting for incoming news, but that might take a while.

I have a procedural question that I hadn't though of until now.

Let's say a team brings in a transfer, but over the course of a season, that transfer doesn't work out. They don't produce as expected, don't fit with the team, whatever the reason. It's obvious they should transfer to another school.

What happens if they don't transfer and just stay? I'm assuming the coach/school can revoke their scholarship? Does there have to be grounds to do that?

What happens if you have someone transfer in who is a detriment to the program but doesn't do anything that would justify dismissal?

 

[cycloneworld]

I don’t mind criticism as long as it’s valid. You’re jumping from one angle to the next to make your point whatever that is.
A. Players do improve from year to year. They have and still do.
B. Annual results are more a product of numerous factors…in our case the Q1 losses this year wasn't about players coming back not improving, but more about the new players not meeting expectations. Other factors are the improvements in personnel other teams made. Look at TCU and OSU as prime examples.

I am not sure how you can objectively look at last year and this year and say that this year was not a disappointment or that we underachieved. Let's look at actual stats and data and I'll show you why I can confidently say that our players are not getting significantly better year over year.

Addy Brown:
2024: 13 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 47% FG, 74% FT
2025: 15.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 48% FG, 75% FT

Outside of a 2ppg increase and slight assists per game increase, she stayed the same or decreased in all other categories. I would say, generally, she was the same player as she was in 2024.

Audi Crooks:
2024: 19.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.5 spg, 57% FG, 65% FT
2025: 23.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.3 spg, 60% FG, 68% FT

Audi had a nice scoring increase but was generally the same player in all other categories as she was in 2024.

Arianna Jackson:
2024: 4.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 38% FG, 75% FT
2025: 5.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.7 spg, 34% FG, 72% FT

Arianna was essentially the same player as she was in 2024.

Kesley Joens:
2024: 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 38% FG, 85% FT
2025: 5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.6 spg, 43% FG, 78% FT

Kelsey was statistically worse in every category except a slight increase in FG %.

I won't include Emily Ryan because of her health issues but she got statistically worse in almost every major category too.

Where is this "players were way better" coming from because the data does not back that up. And the jump a player typically makes from their freshman year to sophomore year should be one of the biggest improvements they make in their college careers. But not our core players...

 

[cycloneworld]

I am not sure how you can objectively look at last year and this year and say that this year was not a disappointment or that we underachieved. Let's look at actual stats and data and I'll show you why I can confidently say that our players are not getting significantly better year over year.

Addy Brown:
2024: 13 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 47% FG, 74% FT
2025: 15.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 48% FG, 75% FT

Outside of a 2ppg increase and slight assists per game increase, she stayed the same or decreased in all other categories. I would say, generally, she was the same player as she was in 2024.

Audi Crooks:
2024: 19.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.5 spg, 57% FG, 65% FT
2025: 23.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.3 spg, 60% FG, 68% FT

Audi had a nice scoring increase but was generally the same player in all other categories as she was in 2024.

Arianna Jackson:
2024: 4.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 38% FG, 75% FT
2025: 5.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.7 spg, 34% FG, 72% FT

Arianna was essentially the same player as she was in 2024.

Kesley Joens:
2024: 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 38% FG, 85% FT
2025: 5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.6 spg, 43% FG, 78% FT

Kelsey was statistically worse in every category except a slight increase in FG %.

I won't include Emily Ryan because of her health issues but she got statistically worse in almost every major category too.

Where is this "players were way better" coming from because the data does not back that up. And the jump a player typically makes from their freshman year to sophomore year should be one of the biggest improvements they make in their college careers. But not our core players...

I can provide more data if you'd like. Let's look at Ashley Joens from her sophomore year on:
2020: 20.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 41% FG, 80% FT
2021: 24.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 46% FG, 88% FT
2022: 20.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 41% FG, 85% FT
2023: 21.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 41% FG, 83% FT

Nearly an identical player for 4 STRAIGHT YEARS. Where is all of this player development happening??

 

[CYdTracked]

I agree Audi should at least be made to stop drives to the basket, she is already under it 75% of the time.

I disagree with the second point. I've seen this sentiment a lot, but scoring was not our problem at all. We scored the most PPG since the 2018-19 season and the second most ever for ISU as far as I can tell. It pretty clear that we need to up our game defensively and focus on good passes to limit turnovers.

I guess my 2nd point regarding the offense is we need to be able to spread the ball around better and not rely entirely on Audi and Addy having to carry us every game. Felt like our offense was way too predictable this year, defenses basically expected us to pass it into Audi as soon as we crossed half court so they would have a 2nd player front her and try to jump the pass. Next option was let Addy handle the ball and try to create a mismatch which is a not a bad thing when she is hitting shots. Option 3 was let Emily Ryan dribble around until someone got open or she was able to get around her defender and drive. The ball did not move enough IMO and our offense was very predictable and limited as a result.

We definitely need to work on defense as that will solve a lot of things if we are more stingy on that end. But we really need to find or develop a reliable 3rd or 4th scoring option which is only going to open up things for Audi and Addy when defenses have other threats to worry about. Maybe a healthy Hare might have made a difference this year in that aspect but pretty sure defenses were not worried about anyone else on our team beating them and the final stats show it as no one else averaged more than 10 ppg for us other than Audi and Addy and even have Ryan who was just shy at 9.7 there was a big drop off and really nothing for bench production either other than the games where Harris would come off the bench vs start and even she would have stretches after having a big game of coming nowhere near that for multiple games.

Probable unfair to compare this group to one of the best teams in program history but go look at that 99-00 team and we had 3 players averaging 13ppg or more (Welle, Frese, Francis, Taylor) and 2 other reliable scorers in Wilson and Gahan. The ball moved around with that team and wasn't so reliant on 1 or 2 players to have big nights every game to win. Same thing the next season with 4 double digit scorers and 2 other reliable players that could score too. You referenced the 18-19 team, they had 4 double digit scorers which included Carleton who was an All-American that year. I think we have a few players on this roster that could step up the scoring and help with this but I don't know if that is an issue with how they are used or players needing to get more aggressive with finding their shot to get some confidence or probably a combination of both?

 

[kcdc4isu]

Usually players will get better from their freshman yr to soph which you should expect. It seems that for us there was not a big jump this year as we would like/expect. Some of that is due to playing time for some. Then you have to look at did the player was just not able to get better due to the level of competition. I have seen really good high school players who get to college and don't get any better at the level of play.