Oregon State and Washington State will become affiliate members of the West Coast Conference in as many as 17 men’s and women’s sports, including basketball, for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.
A source told The Oregonian/OregonLive that WCC presidents and executive council approved the affiliate membership after a vote Thursday morning. Another source said a few details need to be ironed out, and it may not be official until next week.
As the last remaining members of the Pac-12 after this school year, Oregon State and Washington State came to this temporary agreement as they seek a permanent solution for their conference futures.
For the next two years, OSU and WSU will participate with WCC schools in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, cross country and rowing, plus women’s volleyball and softball.
Baseball is currently not part of the mix, but it is being discussed. Oregon State has a national profile in baseball, and the school is investigating the possibility of playing an independent schedule.
Oregon State does not have athletic programs in tennis or men’s cross country.
The West Coast Conference is made up of Portland, Gonzaga, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Saint Mary’s, Pacific, Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine and San Diego. BYU left the WCC at the outset of this school year for the Big 12.
Oregon State and Washington State are eligible to participate in WCC postseason tournaments, including basketball. The WCC has postseason tournaments or championships in cross country, tennis, rowing, golf, beach volleyball, basketball and baseball. The WCC holds its basketball tournament annually in Las Vegas.
Joining the WCC provides intriguing opportunities in basketball for Oregon State. The Beavers could play Gonzaga, one of the country’s most popular men’s teams, twice each season. OSU and Gonzaga haven’t played since 1991. Saint Mary’s, another top 25 regular, hasn’t faced the Beavers since 1968.
For University of Portland, the addition of OSU and WSU enhances its home basketball schedule in men’s and women’s basketball.
Earlier in December, the Beavers and Cougars agreed to a one-year football scheduling arrangement with the Mountain West. There was talk about expanding it to an affiliate membership in other sports, but Oregon State and Washington State pivoted to the WCC as it gives them flexibility in the ever-changing Power 4 conference landscape. The end game for both is an opportunity to secure a power conference membership that includes an automatic berth to the College Football Playoff.
Oregon State sports still investigating a competitive solution in 2024-25 are gymnastics, wrestling and women’s track and field.
