6ft 3in ‘Female Shaq’ dumped out of March Madness despite 37 points as WNBA Draft decision awaits

Mar 22, 2026 - 16:30

Audi Crooks was brutally turfed out of March Madness early for the second year in a row.

The Iowa State star, who has drawn comparisons to NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, dropped 37 points in a season-ending loss to Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Crooks was at her dominant best but her teammates couldn’t keep up

6ft 3in Crooks must now decide whether to return for her senior year or enter the WNBA Draft and pick up one of the bumper new rookie contracts.

“We’re still processing everything,” Crooks said after the game when asked about her intentions. “Just being there for each other right now is the priority. That’s the main thing, making sure everyone is OK.”

Crooks has emerged as a standout for the Cyclones and earned All-America honors from The Sporting News, Associated Press and USBWA.

She went 17-of-25 from the floor and picked up five rebounds, but a more rounded Syracuse roster won 72-68.

Incredibly, Crooks scored 59 percent of her team’s point as the rest of the Cyclones went just 9-of-42 on field goals.

In 2025, Crooks put up put up 28 points in a loss to Michigan in another first-round defeat.

Crook’s paint dominance and power has seen her earn some comparisons with some of the best NBA centers of all-time, not least Shaquille O’Neal.

An Instagram post branding her Lady Shaq was reposted by former Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett in 2025.

Garnett applauded Crooks’ dominance and captioned the post, “ That block work ”

The 2008 NBA champion then went further with his praise, calling her style as “old-school fundamentals mixed with new-age dominance.”

The Cyclones fell at the first hurdle for the second year running

O’Neal picked up four NBA championships, three Finals MVPs, one regular season MVP, three All-Star Game MVPs, Olympic and World Championship gold medals.

“Shaq’s definitely the best center to ever be in the game,” Crooks told PEOPLE before the BNCAA Tournament. “So to be compared to him, such a powerful player, such a skillful, back-to-the-basket post player, just a dominant force, it’s really cool.”

“Being strong is something that I’m proud of,” she added to ESPN. “Being big is something that I’m proud of. I’m not going to shy away from those things.”

Crooks also revealed that she prefers road games and silencing rival fans.

As for her future, she is keen to go pro and will have some soul searching to do.

“I definitely have aspirations to keep playing and to keep the ball bouncing professionally,” she explained. “I think every little girl who plays basketball dreams of being a professional and being able to do what you love as your job.

“I think it is one of the greatest blessings in the world.”