Stillwater’s NIL Splash: Audi Crooks Takes the "Automatic Bucket" to Oklahoma State
Stillwater’s NIL Splash: Audi Crooks Takes the "Automatic Bucket" to Oklahoma State
By Sanchez
If you thought the transfer portal was just a revolving door, Mike Gundy’s firing over NIL complaints might have been the warning shot—but Jacie Hoyt just fired the cannon.
In a move that has the Big 12 looking over its shoulder, Audi Crooks, the undisputed No. 1 player in the transfer portal, has officially committed to Oklahoma State. The 6-foot-3 powerhouse isn't just "staying in the Big 12"—she’s about to become the Cowgirls' gravity center.
A Big 12 Power Shift
Crooks is coming off a junior season at Iowa State where she was basically a cheat code, ranking second in the nation in scoring (25.8 PPG) and field goal percentage (64.9%). For those keeping score at home, that's what we call an "automatic bucket."
Despite Iowa State’s early exit from the NCAA Tournament (don't blame Audi, she dropped 37 points in that loss), Crooks’ decision to head to Stillwater is a shocker. Rumors were swirling about a $500,000 NIL tag, and while Oklahoma State isn't exactly known as the "Land of Infinite Cash," Coach Hoyt clearly found a way to make the math work.
"To think she will be in a Cowgirl uniform feels surreal," said OSU coach Jacie Hoyt. "The last three years I’ve watched team after team strategize and game plan around stopping her and almost all have failed miserably."
The New "One-Two Punch"
Hoyt didn't just stop with the best center in the portal. She went out and snagged Florida’s Liv McGill (No. 2 in the portal rankings), who averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 assists last season.
Sanchez Sideline projected Cowgirls depth chart looks like a nightmare for opposing defenses:
The Post: Audi Crooks (25.8 PPG)
The Point: Liv McGill (22.5 PPG)
The Returner: Stailee Heard (All-Big 12)
The Sharpshooters: Ellie Brueggemann and D-II Player of the Year Talexa Weeter
The "Greener Grass" Strategy
Crooks explained her departure from Ames with some poetic flare on Instagram, stating she wanted to "explore what it means to take root again in new ground."
But let’s talk shop: Oklahoma State only posted up on 4% of their possessions last year. Crooks scores 70% of her points on post-ups. This isn't just a transfer; it's a total offensive redesign. Hoyt is moving away from "scoring by committee" and handing the keys to a 6-foot-3 Iowa native who has scored 40+ points five times in her career.
The Bottom Line
Iowa State lost nine players to the portal. Oklahoma State lost nine players too. But while Ames is looking at a rebuild, Stillwater is looking at a Big 12 title.
The Cowgirls were already a tournament team last year, losing to eventual champ UCLA in the second round. Adding the second-leading scorer in the nation? That’s not a rebuild—that’s an arms race.
Sanchez Sideline will be court-side when the Cyclones and Cowgirls meet next year. Bring your popcorn; it’s going to be "unfiltered" post-play at its finest.
With Audi Crooks and Liv McGill joining forces, is Oklahoma State now the legitimate favorite to win the Big 12, or will the "post-up vs. pace" style clash slow them down?
