WSU Women’s Basketball Draws Seattle U in WCC Tournament
PULLMAN, Wash. (March 1, 2026) – Washington State women’s basketball will be the 9-seed in the 2026 Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Basketball Championship and is set to tip-off the tournament against the 12-seeded Seattle U on Thursday, March 5 at noon.
Tiebreaker Details Determine Cougar Seeding
The Cougars secured the 9-seed after a complex tiebreaker scenario involving Pacific, Saint Mary’s, and Washington State. All three teams finished with a 6-12 league record.
Conference tiebreaker policies involving three or more teams utilize a pod comparison based on head-to-head results. The team with the best record within the pod, determined by winning percentage (even with an unbalanced schedule), receives the highest seed, although the team with the worst record receives the lowest.
In the pod, Pacific and Washington State both posted a 2-1 (.667) record against the other teams, while Saint Mary’s went 1-3 (.250). This resulted in Saint Mary’s being seeded 10th.
With Pacific and Washington State holding identical records within the pod, the tiebreaker moved to head-to-head results. The Tigers defeated the Cougars 65-53 in their only regular season matchup, securing the No. 8 seed for Pacific and the No. 9 seed for Washington State.
“When we rejoined Division I athletics (in 2010), we did that with the hope and expectation to be able to rejoin the West Coast Conference,” Seattle University President Eduardo Peñalver said. Seattle University Athletics
Seattle U Returns to the WCC
This marks a return to the West Coast Conference for Seattle University, who last competed in the league in 1980. Seattle U played in the WCC in the 1970s before leaving when the school dropped out of NCAA Division I athletics and became an NAIA Division II member. They officially rejoined the conference on July 1, 2025.
The addition of Seattle U gives the WCC 11 full members beginning in the 2025-26 season. Oregon State and Washington State competed as affiliate members in 12 sports during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.
Looking Ahead
The tournament matchup against Seattle U represents an early challenge for Washington State as they navigate the WCC Championship bracket.
FAQ
- When does the WSU vs. Seattle U game start? Noon on Thursday, March 5.
- Where is the WCC Tournament held? Location details were not provided in the source material.
- What seed is Seattle U? 12th seed.
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