Iowa State’s first-round exit from the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament has triggered a mass exodus, with a reported eight players leaving the team to enter the transfer portal.

Junior forward Addy Brown announced her decision to “move on” from Iowa State and enter the transfer portal in a social media post on Tuesday, March 24.

“This decision comes after a lot of thought about my future and goals,” Brown wrote in a post shared to social media. “While it’s never easy to move on, I believe this is the right step for me and I’m excited for what’s ahead as I continue to grow and chase my dreams.”

By Thursday, March. 26, several other players followed suit. Junior guard Jada Williams confirmed she’ll be “pursuing my dreams elsewhere” for her senior season. She added in a social media post, “Iowa State will always have a place in my heart and I’ll never forget the Iowa State way.”

Williams transferred to Iowa State for the 2025-26 season after playing for Arizona for the first two years of her career. William averaged career-highs in points (15.3), assists (7.7) and field goal percentage (41.7) in her lone season at Iowa State.

Iowa State freshman guard Reese Beaty, freshman guard Freya Jensen, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, sophomore guard Aili Tanke, junior forward Alisa Williams and junior center Lilly Taulelei all intend to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.

The transfer portal opens on Monday, April 6, following the NCAA Tournament championship game on Sunday, April 5.

Could Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks be next? Crooks declined to answer whether she would return next season following Iowa State’s 72-63 loss to Syracuse on Saturday, March 21. She instead said, “We’re all still processing everything and just being there for each other right now is the priority. That’s the main thing, making sure everybody is mentally OK through this tough time.”

Crooks had 37 points (17-of-25 FG) and five rebounds in the losing effort against Syracuse.

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@usatoday.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Law enforcement has issued thousands of citations since Iowa’s hands-free driving law went into effect, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The law went into effect in July 2025, prohibiting using phones while driving unless in hands-free mode. Citations started on January 1.

Since then, officers have issued over 2,400 citations and over 1,900 warnings.

The violation is a moving violation in Iowa, with a fine of $170.

Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.

Some Iowa health insurance plans will see a tax hike under a bill headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds to be signed into law.

House File 2739 raises taxes on health insurance providers known as health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, to bring in millions of dollars to fill a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid budget.

That group includes companies that offer some of the state’s largest private insurance plans, like Wellmark, Sanford, Wellpoint and Aetna.

Fourteen Republicans across both chambers broke from their party to join Democrats and oppose the proposal, which put the GOP majority in the rare position of being at odds with business groups lobbying against tax hikes. But Republicans in each chamber had enough votes to pass the measure.

How much will health insurance taxes increase?

The taxes will increase from the current rate of 0.925% up to 3.5% between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026. Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, the tax would drop to 0.95%.

The tax increase would allow the state to access federal matching funds and is expected to bring in $123 million to shore up Iowa’s growing Medicaid budget deficit, which is expected to climb to $167.6 million in fiscal year 2027.

The bill also appropriates $89 million to cover the state’s current-year Medicaid budget deficit of $90.6 million.

Democrats warned Iowans will face higher insurance costs as a result of the bill.

Scott Sundstrom, a lobbyist for Wellmark, said at a March 18 public hearing that Wellmark estimates that its customers who are covered by the company’s plan will see a $115 tax increase per person. The company expects to pay $24.2 million more in taxes this year because of the increase.

Why are Iowa Republicans raising taxes?

Republicans have pointed to insurance companies’ profit margins and said health insurers — who have been highly critical of the bill — do not need to raise premiums to cover the cost of the tax increase.

GOP legislative leaders have said there’s a limited window to bring in matching federal funds because of Republicans’ sprawling tax and spending package dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

“This bill will bring investments that benefit our neighbors on Medicaid and those providing the services to them,” said Sen. Mark Costello, R-Imogene.

More: Iowa House OKs tax hike on private health insurance to fund Medicaid

Here’s how every Iowa lawmaker voted.

How every Iowa House lawmaker voted on health care tax increase

The Iowa House voted 53-40 to pass the measure on March 19.

Ten Republicans joined every Democrat in voting against the bill: Reps. David Blom, R-Marshalltown; Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine; Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines; Thomas Jeneary, R-Le Mars; Judd Lawler, R-Oxford; Norlin Mommsen, R-De Witt; Jennifer Smith, R-Dubuque; Ray Sorensen, R-Greenfield; Ryan Weldon, R-Ankeny; and David Young, R-Van Meter.