Ashley Joens Bio
Ashley Rose Joens is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Athinaikos of the Greek Women’s Basketball League. She plays both the small forward and shooting guard positions, and she has competed at the collegiate, professional, and international levels. Joens is widely recognized for her time with the Iowa State Cyclones of the Big 12 Conference, where she finished as one of the most decorated players in program history.
Following her college career, Joens was drafted into the WNBA and has since built an international résumé across Italy, New Zealand, and Greece. In addition to her club play, she has represented the United States in youth international competition, winning gold medals at both the U-18 and U-19 levels.
Early Life and Background
Ashley Rose Joens was born on March 16, 2000, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is the daughter of Brian and Lisa Joens and grew up alongside four sisters in a household with a strong athletic background. Her older sister Courtney later played basketball at the University of Illinois, while her younger sister Aubrey played alongside her at Iowa State before transferring to Oklahoma.
Joens attended Iowa City High School, where she was a two-sport athlete in basketball and track and field. She played on the varsity basketball team all four years, started every game, and ultimately became the school’s all-time leader in points. As a senior, she averaged 30.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, performances that helped her earn the title of Miss Iowa Basketball at the end of the season.
A five-star recruit out of high school, Joens committed to Iowa State and became the highest-rated recruit in the history of the program. Her combination of size, skill, and scoring instinct made her one of the most sought-after prospects in the country.
Path to Basketball
Joens’ path to elite-level basketball began in earnest at Iowa City High School, where her scoring totals quickly separated her from her peers. Her senior-year averages of more than 30 points and 11 rebounds per game drew national attention and established her as the top player in the state of Iowa. The recognition from peers and coaches during this period laid the foundation for her move into college basketball.
Her recruitment by Iowa State represented a significant step, as she joined a program with a strong tradition of developing post players and wings. The Cyclones offered her an opportunity to compete in the Big 12 Conference, one of the most competitive leagues in college basketball. Joens accepted the challenge and entered college as the highest-rated recruit in program history, ready to test herself against top-tier competition.
She also gained valuable international experience at a young age. Joens captained the United States U-18 team to a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Women’s Americas Championship in Mexico. The following year, she helped the U-19 squad win gold at the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup in Thailand, further sharpening her game against high-level competition.
Ashley Joens Career
Iowa State Career (2018–2023)
Joens played five seasons for the Iowa State Cyclones after arriving as a highly touted freshman in 2018. As a freshman, she appeared and started in all 35 games, averaging nearly 12 points per game while earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. In her sophomore season, she expanded her role, leading the Big 12 in scoring at 20.5 points per game while also averaging 10.9 rebounds, and posted a career-high 41 points against Wright State on December 11, 2019.
Her junior year brought additional accolades, as she broke the Iowa State single-season scoring record with 24.2 points per game, trained during the COVID-19 pandemic to stay in shape, and scored 33 points in an NCAA tournament opening-round win over Michigan State. In 2021, she earned her first Cheryl Miller Award as the best small forward in college basketball and was named a third-team All-American by the USBWA.
Senior and Super Senior Seasons (2021–2023)
As a senior in 2021–22, Joens became Iowa State’s all-time scoring leader, averaging 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds while leading the Cyclones to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010. She was a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection, repeated as the Cheryl Miller Award winner, and earned spots on the AP and USBWA second-team All-America lists.
After initially being projected as a top pick in the 2022 WNBA draft, Joens chose to return to Iowa State for a fifth season made possible by the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility ruling. During her super senior campaign, she led the Big 12 in scoring and ranked third in rebounding, became the 14th player in NCAA Division I women’s history to score 3,000 career points during the conference tournament, and was named Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in December 2022.
At season’s end, Joens was named a second-team All-American by the USBWA and a third-team All-American by the AP, and she shared the inaugural Bob Bowlsby Award with TCU football star Max Duggan for leadership and excellence across Big 12 sports.
Professional Career (2023–Present)
Joens was selected 19th overall in the second round of the 2023 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings. She was waived by the Wings on June 23, 2023, then signed with the Las Vegas Aces on an emergency waiver contract on July 20, appearing in two games. She returned to Dallas on a seven-day contract before signing with the Phoenix Mercury on August 18, 2023.
Following her WNBA stops, Joens joined Dinamo Sassari of the Italian Serie A1 for the 2023–24 season. In 2024, she moved to New Zealand and joined the Tauranga Whai of Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, where she helped the Whai win the league championship and was named to the Tauihi All-Star Five. She then signed with Athinaikos of the Greek Women’s Basketball League, where she continues her professional career.
Playing Style and Strengths
Joens is known for her scoring versatility, capable of filling the basket from the perimeter, mid-range, and inside the paint. Her size and rebounding instincts allow her to play effectively at small forward, while her shooting touch and ball-handling enable her to operate as a shooting guard. Throughout her career, she has shown the ability to post double-doubles against high-level competition and to carry a team’s offense for extended stretches.
Notable Events and Milestones
Joens reached 3,000 career points during the 2023 Big 12 tournament, becoming the 14th player in NCAA Division I women’s history to hit that mark. She was also the centerpiece of an NCAA tournament upset win over Michigan State as a junior and led Iowa State to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in over a decade during her senior season. Her three consecutive Cheryl Miller Awards, four straight first-team All-Big 12 selections, and inaugural Bob Bowlsby Award highlight her consistency and impact.
Ashley Joens Career Wins
Joens’ competitive résumé includes a Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship with the Tauranga Whai in 2024, two FIBA youth gold medals with the United States in 2018 and 2019, and the Big 12 tournament title in 2023. She has earned individual conference and national recognition across her college and professional career.
College Highlights
Joens finished her Iowa State career as the program’s all-time scoring leader, a four-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, a three-time Cheryl Miller Award winner, and the 2023 Big 12 Player of the Year. She was a multi-time All-American and was named Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading the Cyclones to the conference championship. She also became the 14th player in NCAA Division I women’s history to reach 3,000 career points.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the United States, Joens has competed professionally in Italy, New Zealand, and Greece, winning the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa title with the Tauranga Whai in 2024 and earning Tauihi All-Star Five honors. She also captured gold medals with the U.S. U-18 team in 2018 and the U.S. U-19 team in 2019 at the FIBA youth World Cup and Americas Championship events.
Ashley Joens Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Joens is the daughter of Brian and Lisa Joens, and she has four sisters. The Joens family has produced multiple college basketball players, including her older sister Courtney Joens, who played at the University of Illinois, and her younger sister Aubrey Joens, who played two seasons alongside her at Iowa State before transferring to Oklahoma after the 2021–22 season. Basketball has been a shared passion across the family.
Personal Life
Joens completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Iowa State in December 2022. She continues her professional basketball career overseas, and her personal life remains largely private.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Joens joined Athinaikos of the Greek Women’s Basketball League, adding another international stop to her professional career. Her move to Greece followed her championship-winning campaign with the Tauranga Whai in New Zealand, where she was also recognized on the Tauihi All-Star Five.
Joens is expected to serve as a key scoring and rebounding contributor for Athinaikos, drawing on her Big 12 pedigree and her experience competing in Italy and New Zealand. Her versatility as a small forward and shooting guard gives the Greek club flexibility in how it deploys her within its rotation.
As the 2025 season unfolds, Joens will look to translate her college accolades into consistent production in one of Europe’s top women’s basketball leagues while continuing to build her professional reputation abroad.