The West Coast Conference

The West Coast Conference (WCC) is one of the longest-running college conferences in the US. This conference is known for being a stronghold for some of the best teams in college basketball.

Here is everything you need to know about the West Coast Conference. Read about its history and which schools currently call the WCC home.

The History of the West Coast Conference 

The West Coast Conference began as the California Basketball Association(CBA). It was funded by four colleges in the Bay Area, including San Francisco and Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara, and Pacific(Stockton, California).

The conference played its first game in 1953, including LA-based universities Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine in 1955.

In 1956, the conference changed its name to the West Coast Athletic Conference, and Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount were added.

The conference would be known as the WCAC for three decades before changing its name to the WCC in 1989.

Despite the upheaval in many conferences during the 1990s, the WCC remained relatively stable. It wasn’t until the 2010 realignment that the conference had any significant changes.

Brigham Young University(BYU) joined the conference in 2011, the first school change in thirty years. The previous change was Seattle University leaving the WCC in 1980.

Only the Ivy League and Pac-12 conferences have remained unchanged for longer periods..

What Teams Are in the West Coast Conference? 

As of 2024, there are currently nine full WCC members, seven associate members, and two incoming future members.

Full WCC Members

There are currently nine full members of the WCC.

• Gonzaga: Joined in 1979 and is set to join the Pac 12 in 2026
• Loyola Marymount University: Joined in 1955
• University of Pacific: Joined in 1952 and rejoined in 2013
• Pepperdine University: Joined in 1955
• University of Portland: Joined in 1976
• Saint Mary’s College of California: Joined in 1952
• University of San Diego: Joined in 1979
• University of San Francisco: Joined in 1952
• Santa Clara University: Joined in 1952

Associate WCC Members 

There are currently seven associate members of the WCC that compete in different college sports.

• United States Air Force Academy: Recently joined in 2023 as an associate member for men’s water polo
• California Baptist University: Recently joined in 2023 for men’s water polo
• Creighton University: Joined in 2010 for women’s rowing
• Oregon State University: Recently joined in 2024 and participates in multiple sports
• California State University-Sacramento: Recently joined in 2024 as an associate member for women’s rowing
• San Jose State University: Recently joined in 2023 as an associate member for men’s water polo
• Washington State University: Recently joined the WCC in 2024 as an associate member for multiple sports.

Former Full WCC Members  

Since the West Coast Conference was established, seven full members have left the conference.

• Brigham Young University(BYU): Joined in 2011 and left in 2023
• University of California-Santa Barbara: Joined in 1964 and left in 1969
• Fresno State University: Joined in 1955 and left in 1957
• University of Nevada-Reno: Joined in 1969 and left in 1979
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas(UNLV): Joined in 1969 and left in 1975
• San Jose State University: Joined in 1952 and left in 1969
• Seattle University: Joined in 1971 and left in 1980 

Former Associate WCC Members

• California State-Bakersfield
• Californa State-Los Angeles
• University of Nevada-Reno
• International University: 

Future WCC Members

There are currently two universities set to join the WCC in 2025.

• Grand Canyon University: Coming to the WCC in 2025 from the Western Athletic Conference(WAC).
• Seattle University: Coming to the WCC in 2025 from the WAC.

West Coast Conference Football Teams 

The West Coast Conference has never participated in college football in the conference’s history.

West Coast Conference Basketball Teams 

The West Coast Conference is most known for its top-ranked basketball teams. Eleven teams currently participate in the WCC basketball conference(9 full members, 2 associate members).

• Gonzaga
• Loyola Marymount
• Pacific
• Pepperdine
• Portland
• Saint Mary’s
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Santa Clara
• Oregon State(Associate Member)
• Washington State(Associate Member)

In the WCC basketball championship tournament history, Gonzaga has dominated with 21 title wins. Saint Mary is in second with 5 titles and is the reigning champion after beating Gonzaga last season 69-60.

West Coast Conference Baseball Teams

There are a total of nine teams currently in the WCC baseball conference. 

• Gonzaga
• Loyola Marymount
• Pacific 
• Pepperdine
• Portland
• Saint Mary’s
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Santa Clara