WCC adds Grand Canyon, Seattle

Field Level Media|published: Fri 10th May, 15:29 2024

Mar 22, 2024; Spokane, WA, USA; Grand Canyon Antelopes bench reacts during the second half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the St. Mary's Gaels at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. credits: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Grand Canyon and Seattle are leaving the Western Athletic Conference for the West Coast Conference, effective July 2025.

The nine current conference members are private, faith-based universities. Seattle is a Jesuit university, and Grand Canyon, located in Phoenix, is a Christian institution.

A strong selling point for WCC commissioner Stu Jackson was Grand Canyon's basketball success. The school has made the past two NCAA Tournaments and three of the past four under coach Bryce Drew.

The 12th-seeded Antelopes knocked out fifth-seeded Saint Mary's before falling to Alabama in this season's tournament.

Saint Mary's is a member of the West Coast Conference.

The WCC, which welcomes Oregon State and Washington State this fall (except for football), will grow from 11 to 13 members for 2025-26.

The landscape beyond 2026 appears more uncertain, with Oregon State and Washington State unlikely to remain with the WCC.

The former Pac-12 schools have only a two-year deal, expiring June 30, 2026. CBS Sports sources said the possibility of the two Pacific Northwest schools staying is doubtful, with the Mountain West or some incarnation of a new league more likely.

With Seattle and Grand Canyon leaving the WAC on the heels of the Sam Houston and New Mexico State departures last year, the conference will count only eight members by July 2025.

-Field Level Media

Latest