Oklahoma State University Athletics
October 30, 2026 | Cowgirl Basketball
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State women's basketball's Audi Crooks has been named to the 20-player Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today.
The Lisa Leslie Award, one of five Naismith Starting Five awards, recognizes the nation's top center in women's college basketball. The award is in its 10th year and honors the three-time All-American and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
Crooks, a three-time AP All-American, was named a top-five finalist for the award in each of the last two seasons at Iowa State. One of the most dominant post players in the country, Crooks finished last season as one of two DI (men's or women's), NBA or WNBA players this century to record at least 25.0 points per game while shooting at least 64.7% from the field in a single season.
The Algona, Iowa, native is one of five returning multiple-time All-Americans in the nation and was the third-fastest Big 12 player to reach 1,000 career points, doing so in just 49 games. She's scored in double figures in 98 straight games, the longest active streak in the nation.
Crooks is the third Cowgirl to earn a spot on a Naismith Starting Five Award Watch List, joining Liv McGill (Nancy Lieberman Award; point guard) and Stailee Heard (Cheryl Miller Award; small forward).
The 20-player watch list will be trimmed to 10 in February, then five in March. In late March, Leslie and the Hall of Fame selection committees will review the five finalists and select the winner. Fans are encouraged to participate in fan voting in each of the three rounds, starting tomorrow, October 31.
Crooks and the rest of the Cowgirls open the regular season against Southern at 5 p.m. on Nov. 2 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Single-game and season tickets can be purchased at okstate.com/tickets or by calling 877-ALL-4OSU.
For more on Cowgirl Basketball, visit okstate.com and follow @OSUWBB on X and Instagram.
The Lisa Leslie Award, one of five Naismith Starting Five awards, recognizes the nation's top center in women's college basketball. The award is in its 10th year and honors the three-time All-American and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
Crooks, a three-time AP All-American, was named a top-five finalist for the award in each of the last two seasons at Iowa State. One of the most dominant post players in the country, Crooks finished last season as one of two DI (men's or women's), NBA or WNBA players this century to record at least 25.0 points per game while shooting at least 64.7% from the field in a single season.
The Algona, Iowa, native is one of five returning multiple-time All-Americans in the nation and was the third-fastest Big 12 player to reach 1,000 career points, doing so in just 49 games. She's scored in double figures in 98 straight games, the longest active streak in the nation.
Crooks is the third Cowgirl to earn a spot on a Naismith Starting Five Award Watch List, joining Liv McGill (Nancy Lieberman Award; point guard) and Stailee Heard (Cheryl Miller Award; small forward).
The 20-player watch list will be trimmed to 10 in February, then five in March. In late March, Leslie and the Hall of Fame selection committees will review the five finalists and select the winner. Fans are encouraged to participate in fan voting in each of the three rounds, starting tomorrow, October 31.
Crooks and the rest of the Cowgirls open the regular season against Southern at 5 p.m. on Nov. 2 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Single-game and season tickets can be purchased at okstate.com/tickets or by calling 877-ALL-4OSU.
For more on Cowgirl Basketball, visit okstate.com and follow @OSUWBB on X and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Cowgirl Basketball
Guard
/ Cowgirl Basketball
Guard
/ Cowgirl BasketballSaturday, October 31
Thursday, October 29
Tuesday, October 27
Tuesday, October 27
