Athlete is a hell of a stretch.
Audi Crooks to Transfer
- Thread starter Clone5
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Every other year Big Ten teams get a road trip to LA to play UCLA and USC back-to-back. Been a killer roadie the last few years. Hometown Gophers had them in Mpls this season but make the dreaded roadie next season. Iowa gets the LA teams at IC next season.
Well this didn't make my coffee taste any better. ESPN updated ranking of Top 20 portal players, all but one has signed. Our losses made up three of the top five gains for other teams. Iowa was in the top five but for a portal gain and not a loss. Texas made the the list for three lost and two bing top ten. OSU made the list twice, a gain and a loss.
www.espn.com
Women's NCAA basketball transfer rankings for 2026-27 season
The transfer portal is closed. Audi Crooks is headed to Oklahoma State while Addy Brown is bound for UCLA.
It's only one writer's opinion, but nonetheless, seeing three of our girls at the top part of the list saddens me too. On the bright side, and I may be the only person on here who feels this way, I am looking forward to watching our nine former players to see how they do on their new teams, including Audi. I do not understand the piling on of criticism directed at her. She had a chance to make some real money, and why not. If she invests even a quarter of that for retirement, it will be worth about $5 million or something like $1.5 million in today's money in 40 years. Not saying that is what she will do (probably she won't) but it just illustrates what a life changing event this can be for her. However, when Audi comes to Hilton, she will not be my favourite person!! That's just the way it is.
I'm curious how the other girls will do too. Jada and Addy have stepped it up a notch; expectations at UCLA and LSU will be different from here. But I am really happy for the girls because they all found a new home (not all girls do) and they are all striking out to be the best that they can be. I'll be cheering for each and every one to achieve their personal goals - as long as they are not playing the Sisters.
I'm curious how the other girls will do too. Jada and Addy have stepped it up a notch; expectations at UCLA and LSU will be different from here. But I am really happy for the girls because they all found a new home (not all girls do) and they are all striking out to be the best that they can be. I'll be cheering for each and every one to achieve their personal goals - as long as they are not playing the Sisters.
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I'm not angry that they left, but no one will convince me that CBF didn't play a part of why they left. $$ for sure but his coaching style was not helping improve their game. It's been going on for years. Kudos to the players that are returning. Need to find a coach not named Fennelly soon.
What's sad is some of the harshest critics piling on are probably old fat guys who have no room to talk about anyone else's weight or basketball ability - especially when talking about an All-American.
Not sure if legit or not. Basically, Audi saying she loves ISU . . . . without saying the second part.
He most certainly played a part. What bugs me a little is that in a recent podcast, Blum apologized for “not doing enough” to help retain these players. Coach (from what I’ve seen) has taken no responsibility for it. The former NIL guy taking more blame then the head coach making 900k? Dude (Fennelly )has gotten to big for his britches.
We barely made the tourney and ours made 3 of top 5 in the portal?Well this didn't make my coffee taste any better. ESPN updated ranking of Top 20 portal players, all but one has signed. Our losses made up three of the top five gains for other teams. Iowa was in the top five but for a portal gain and not a loss. Texas made the the list for three lost and two bing top ten. OSU made the list twice, a gain and a loss.
Women's NCAA basketball transfer rankings for 2026-27 season
The transfer portal is closed. Audi Crooks is headed to Oklahoma State while Addy Brown is bound for UCLA.
This had been my frustration with the Fennellys for some time. It’s in no way, shape or form Blum’s fault, but it’s telling that an individual with 0 ties to the NIL space now is taking responsibility while all you hear from Bill is… checks notes- crickets (other than talking about the “Iowa State Way”, whatever TF that is) while is daughter in law goes on Twitter and complains about “the haters” and how they’re circling the wagons. There doesn’t seem to be any accountability mechanism for Bill, or any of the Fennellys for consistently underachieving with the talent he’s had. Bill’s done alot of good for WBB at Iowa State, but he’s ruining his reputation with the fan base IMO, and it’s time for a change.
I don’t think I’ve ever been on the same side of any argument that you were, but we’re 100% in agreement on this. I’m excited for our former players, especially those who didn’t play much at ISU, to get a fresh opportunity. I watched a number of Izzy Zingaro’s Cleveland State games last season and loved seeing her dominate the Horizon League! I hope to see more of the same next season from this group of transfers…
I, for one, get a bad taste in my mouth whether it be pro sports or pay to play college sports, when there is no allegiance to team any more. I grew up a Vikings fan and knew who all the players were. For the most part they stayed the course for their careers. Same with the Twins. Then free agency hit and it was all about the big paycheck (which gets bigger with each passing year). There are still cases of players staying the course and some even taking pay cuts to help the team (Justin Jefferson as an example). But, it has sort of ruined my allegiance to those players and college sports is becoming the same way. All the football players that have left over the past several years? Didn’t follow what they did after they left. Didn’t care. Feeling the same way about basketball now too. With so many players hitting their third team it’s just hard to care. So, likely I won’t pay attention to to many of the transfers…especially the multiple school transfers. Brown. She’s an ISU grad and I’ll likely keep a casual eye on what she does at UCLA. Crooks will be forced upon us as a conference opponent. The rest? Good luck to them, but frankly I won’t pay much attention.
What you said...Vike fan, Twins fan here. It was interesting to follow some WWB outs, but they are here too brief to form deep attachment and too many. I'm focused on keeping up on those incoming. We weren't in a perfect world pre-NIL but now its like cities black mailed of billions for new NFL stadiums, $8 hotdogs, $200 tickets, and trademarked NFL apparel through the roof.
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Sorry to read this Acoustimac, but maybe most saddened because I can't disagree with you. College sports are supposed to be different from the pros, but the television executives saw a chance to make more money - a lot more money - and took advantage. - that's where I place at least some of the blame. My game is hockey and some players have stayed the course - Overchkin, Crosby, McKinnon, McDavid and others - but my guess with them is they were on teams where they saw a chance to win the Cup - except McDavid. I wouldn't be surprised he leaves next year because the Oilers just haven't been able to do what the Avalanche, Capitals, and Penguins were able to do, and that is build a winner around their star players. I am not disputing that dollars is not a big motivator for pros (it sure is for owners), because it clearly is, I just think that at least in hockey, there is still some degree of dedication to the team - provided the team is dedicated to the players.
In the pros, more and more, I find myself cheering for players and less for teams. I try to be a good Cyclone fan in college sports, and I think I am - and FB, MBB and WR make that pretty easy - but the recent history of WBB makes it increasingly difficult. I'll still cheer for the Sisters (and read your analyses!) but I have to admit I will have half an eye watching the girls who left and wishing them well.
Sure sounds like a coaching problem to me.
One item I found interesting is that we had top tier portal girls, transferring to schools like LSU, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Indiana, etc., and somehow we still weren't any good.
It’s almost like having a coach be untouchable with 0 accountability mechanism is a bad thing. Can’t wait for JP and Bill to explain how underperforming with that talent for the last three years is due to NIL.
It will be telling what ticket renewal numbers look like later this fall.
I guess I stand on the side of... why should there be allegiance to team? Coaches don't offer 4 year scholarships to high schoolers. If you're not good enough, you'll get dropped by the coach and fans.
I'm with you as it definitely sucks but I don't blame the players here. The system is broken and colleges/ADs have been making billions on the backs of players for decades. It's difficult to point the finger at the athletes for wanting a piece of the pie they help bring in. So if the NCAA, schools, and ADs aren't going to look out for them and return any loyalty, why should the player?
There are fairly simple ways to fix this - two year minimum NIL contracts, making people sit out after transferring, etc, etc but no one is willing to do the hard work to make it happen. And the second they do, someone will sue them.
As always, the fan is the one who gets the worst of it.
