When Texas Christian women’s basketball player Sydney Harris entered the transfer portal a second time, she was hoping to hear from Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and his staff. Harris was interested in the Cyclones the first time around but ended up committing to TCU. Still, she kept the Cyclones on her radar as she went looking for another school again.

“They were definitely the first people to reach out,” Harris said. “So, kind of right then and there, I was like, ‘Let’s get this rolling again.’”

Harris didn’t pass up the Cyclones this time around. The 6-foot-1 guard/forward committed Iowa State over the weekend. Harris, who has played at Central Michigan and most recently TCU, will stay in the Big 12 Conference and play for the Cyclones this upcoming season.

 “Coach Fenn has made Iowa State a huge powerhouse for women’s basketball,” Harris said. “It’s a phenomenal program and just the fact that he has interest in me and think I am capable of helping him continue to be great at the Big 12, Power 5 level, is just really awesome and that’s just kind of what I’m looking for.”

Harris gives Iowa State some size and experience, something the Cyclones needed after losing Nyamer Diew and Jalynn Bristow to the transfer portal. Harris has appeared in 45 games between Central Michigan and TCU the last two seasons. During those two seasons, Harris averaged 14.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Her best season came as a freshman when made 29 starts and averaged 17.4 points per game while being named Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year at Central Michigan. Like Diew and Bristow, Harris brings a versatile skillset as someone that can play the three or the stretch four. Harris is a career 36% 3-point shooter that can also attack the hoop. She said both attributes were appealing to Fennelly.

“Coach Fenn was saying I have the greenlight for 3’s,” Harris said. “But I really liked, whenever we had the conversation about that, was how he recognized multiple plaice of my game that I feel like people kind of forget because I shoot the ball so well.”

Harris made 29 starts at Central Michigan. She missed all of the non-conference portion of the TCU schedule due to an ankle injury. Harris, who appeared in 16 TCU’s final 18 games, said she also dealt with some family issues. She added that after a season there, she needed a new fit.

“When I was in the portal the last time, I was looking for things and I feel like I didn’t end up getting it again,” Harris said. “So, I think it was time to try and find a better place for me that I can fit in better and kind of flourish more.”

She hopes Iowa State can offer her that. Harris said the Cyclones were in her top three teams to transfer to when she left Central Michigan. She was even scheduled to visit Ames but didn’t end up taking that visit after ending up at TCU. Luckily for her, the Cyclones were still interested in her.

“I was hoping I would get a text from Coach Fenn,” Harris said.

Harris will be a junior the upcoming season. After missing so much time last season, she’s hoping to can get a waiver for another season of eligibility.

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.