See where the Iowa State women's basketball team is ranked in the Associated Press poll

The Iowa State women’s basketball team returns most of its roster from a team that won 23 games last season and reached the NCAA Tournament.

So naturally expectations are going to be high for the Cyclones heading into this season.

Very high.

Iowa State enters the 2025-26 season as a top-15 squad nationally, checking in at No. 14 in the preseason Associated Press poll released on Oct. 14.

The ranking is another sign of some lofty expectations for Iowa State this season. The Cyclones were also picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference preseason poll.

The Cyclones return a talented team that has already accomplished a lot. Iowa State brings back its top two scorers from a season ago in Audi Crooks (23.4 points per game) and Addy Brown (15.2).

More: Iowa State's Audi Crooks named Big 12 preseason player of the year; Cyclones picked second

Five of the team's top six scorers from last season return. Crooks was named the preseason Big 12 player of the year. She and Brown helped Iowa State reach the Big 12 Tournament title game and NCAA round-of-32 two seasons ago.

The Cyclones loaded their non-conference schedule with tough opponents last season and struggled at times. Still, Iowa State managed to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and won a “First Four” game.

With Crooks and Brown now juniors, the hope is that Iowa State can take a giant step forward. The Cyclones had a productive offseason, adding star point guard Jada Williams from the transfer portal.

Iowa State also returns Kenzie Hare, who missed most of last season with an injury. Sydney Harris, Arianna Jackson, Aili Tanke and Reagan Wilson, who all have starting experience, are also back.  

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 [email protected] or 515-284-8468.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: See Iowa State women's basketball ranking in first AP poll