Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly on his goals for the 2024-25 season
Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly is excited about what’s happening at the school right now.
Coaches and media members throughout the Big 12 Conference agree that Kansas State is the league’s top women’s basketball team.
And Iowa State isn’t far behind.
The Cyclones were picked to finish second behind Kansas State in a vote by seven reporters who cover Big 12 women’s basketball for the USA TODAY Sports Network.
More: See where Iowa State women’s basketball ranks in USA TODAY Sports coaches preseason poll
Iowa State was also picked to finish second behind the Wildcats in the Big 12’s annual preseason poll, which is voted on by the league’s coaches.
Expectations are high for the Cyclones who return the bulk of their roster from a season ago. Iowa State was one of the biggest surprise stories in the league. The young team went to the Big 12 Tournament title game and came within a win of reaching the Sweet 16.
Iowa State brings back its top three scorers from a season ago in Audi Crooks, Addy Brown and Emily Ryan.
The Cyclones, who began the season ranked No. 9 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches preseason poll, unofficially kick off the season on Wednesday with an exhibition game against Central at Hilton Coliseum.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
