College basketball is just under three months away, so it’s time to look ahead and see what Iowa State women’s basketball can put together for the 2026-27 season. 

With a new roster, can the Cyclones return to the Madness of March, win a conference tournament game and even take down one of their own?

March Madness appearance

During the 2025-26 Cyclone season, Iowa State found themselves in March Madness relatively easily despite an early exit in the Big 12 Tournament and losing two of their last three regular-season games.

Although the Cyclones bowed out early in a first-round loss to Syracuse, they were an eight seed, meaning that they had gotten in without an auto-bid over at least 12 other teams.

Although most of Iowa State’s 2025-26 roster is gone, the replacements should not drop the Cyclones 12 spots. 

If Iowa State is able to win around 60% of its games, it should be able to find its way into March Madness.

The Cyclones have made March Madness with a record just over .600. In 2020-21, Iowa State finished 17-11 and made the tournament, and in 2023-24 finished 21-12 with a .636 winning percentage and a spot in March Madness.

Bill Fennelly has also gotten the Cyclones into the last seven March Madness tournaments, not including the 2019-20 season, when it was cancelled, and Iowa State finished 18-11.

Fennelly should be able to put together a good enough season for the Cyclones to slide their way into March Madness.

Iowa State will be competitive in Audi Crooks’ return game

Former Cyclone star Audi Crooks left Ames after the 2025-26 season before her surprise arrival in Stillwater, Oklahoma, joining the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

Crooks averaged 25.8 points per game as a center for the program, second nationally behind only Mikayla Blakes for Vanderbilt, who averaged 27 points per game.

Crooks’ transfer announcement ranked her as the number one transfer prospect in the 2026 window, with rumors of her going to programs like Minnesota, Notre Dame and Iowa before deciding to stay in the Big 12 and go to Oklahoma State.

Not only did the Cowgirls get Crooks, but they also got the number six transfer in the country in Liv McGill from Florida. 

McGill averaged 22.5 points per game as a sophomore as a Gator, on top of 6.3 assists per game and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Now, I’m not going to say Iowa State will beat Oklahoma State, because that would be a tall task, but Iowa State could definitely find a way to be competitive and sneak out an upset.

The Cyclones play the Cowgirls twice, once at home and once away. Chances are the game in Stillwater will go to the Cowgirls, but Hilton Coliseum has Hilton Magic for a reason.

Chances are this game will be the highest-attended game for Iowa State of the regular season. If the crowd can get behind the girls repping cardinal and gold, then maybe, just maybe Iowa State can take a victory off of the Cowgirls’ hands.

Big 12 Tournament run better than 2025-26

During the 2026 women’s Big 12 Tournament, Iowa State fell flat instantly. With one of their most talented rosters in recent history, the Cyclones lost 77-68 to Arizona State.

Notably, Arizona State was a 10 seed who had to play 15 seed Arizona the night before. The Cyclones were three seeds better at seven and had a bye, not having to play.

Iowa State had also played Arizona State with four games left in the regular season and won in dominating fashion with a score of 90-64.

Ideally for the Cyclones, they’re able to pull off a win in the 2027 rendition of the tournament, not only for a shot at winning the tournament but to be seen favorably by the March Madness committee.