Crooks Named Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Finalist

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award, announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The top five is made up of three seniors and two juniors.

A unanimous First-Team All-Big 12 Conference player for the third-straight season, Crooks is averaging a league-best 25.5 points per game while shooting nearly 65 percent from the floor as the nation's second leading scorer. The 6-3 center is one of only two players in NCAA Division I basketball (men's or women's) to average at least 25.5 points per game while shooting at least 64.7 percent from the floor. The other was Iowa's Megan Gustafson in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Gustafson won the Lisa Leslie Award in 2019. Crooks scored her 2,000^th career point in her 89^th game, becoming the fastest Big 12 women's basketball player to reach the milestone. The Algona, Iowa native averaged 7.8 rebounds while recording 12 double-doubles this season. She has scored in double figures in 97 consecutive games, the longest active streak nationally, and is the only player in the country to record multiple 40-point games this season.

Fans can support their favorite players on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one vote during the final selection process. For more information on the Naismith Starting 5 awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallU and #LeslieAward on X (formally Twitter) and Instagram.