The latest recipient of the Associated Press national player of the week award in women’s college basketball for the 17th week of the season is Audi Crooks from Iowa State. The talented sophomore center showcased her skills by averaging an impressive 32.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in victories over Central Florida and the 14th-ranked Kansas State. Crooks delivered a standout performance with a season-high of 36 points against Kansas State, shooting an impressive 14 of 18 from the field. She concluded the conference play on a high note with back-to-back games where she shot 75% or better.
In a closely contested race, the runner-up for the award is Toby Fournier from Duke. The promising freshman forward had a standout week, scoring a career-best 28 points in a crucial win against the then-No. 24 Florida State. Prior to that, she showcased her versatility with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a victory over arch-rivals North Carolina. Fournier displayed excellent shooting accuracy, registering 54.5% from the field in the win against the then-No. 8 Tar Heels.
Among the players receiving an honorable mention are Kitty Henderson from Columbia, Makayla Timpson from Florida State, and JuJu Watkins from USC. These players have also made significant contributions to their teams and are worth keeping an eye on.
One emerging talent to watch is Caia Elisaldez, a sophomore forward from Chattanooga, who played a pivotal role in securing the No. 2 seed in the Southern Conference Tournament. Elisaldez showcased her skills by averaging 18.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in the final two regular-season games. She kicked off the week with an impressive performance, contributing 18 points and 8 assists in an overtime loss to Furman.
Stay updated with the latest rankings and news on the AP Top 25 throughout the season by signing up for poll alerts. For more information on AP women’s college basketball, visit https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball.
