AMES – Iowa State women’s basketball had a successful second week of the 2025-26 season.
The Cyclones picked up two wins, had one of their biggest stars break one of the program’s most important records and had another do something that hadn’t been accomplished by an Iowa State player in over a decade.
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That success has kept the Cyclones in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll released on Nov. 18. Iowa State checked in at No. 15. The Cyclones (5-0) were previously ranked No. 18, but moved up with wins over Valparaiso and Norfolk State.
While the wins weren’t the biggest victories in program history, how they unfolded led to some memorable moments. Audi Crooks poured in a single-game school record 43 points during the win over Valparaiso. In the win against Norfolk State, Addy Brown tallied the team’s first triple-double since 2014.
Crooks went on to earn Big 12 Conference player of the week honors on Nov. 17. Her performance and the two wins helped Iowa State jump four spots to No. 12 in the latest Associated Press poll, which was released Nov. 17. The 5-0 start for Iowa State is the team’s first since the 2022-23 season.
More: Where the Iowa State women’s basketball team is ranked in the latest Associated Press poll
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The Cyclones could bump into the top 10 with another strong showing this week. Iowa State plays its first road game of the season on Nov. 20 against Drake at the Knapp Center. The week finishes with the Cyclones hosting Mercyhurst on Nov. 23 at Hilton Coliseum at 1 p.m.
USA TODAY SPORTS Coaches Poll
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: See where Iowa State women’s basketball ranks in latest coaches poll
