SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – With the turn of the calender to July 1, 2024, Oregon State and Washington State are officially affiliate members of the West Coast Conference. OSU and WSU begin a two-year term in the WCC as affiliate members across 12 sports.
The WCC extended invitations for affiliate membership to OSU and WSU on Dec. 22, 2023. Both institutions will compete in the Conference in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s cross country and women’s rowing. Oregon State will also participate in the WCC in men’s soccer and softball, and Washington State will also compete in the WCC in women’s tennis and men’s cross country.
“The West Coast Conference provides an exceptional experience with strong values that are shared across its membership,” Dr. Thayne McCulloh, President of Gonzaga University and the Chair of the WCC Presidents’ Council, said during the WCC’s announcement of affiliate membership for OSU and WSU. “We are pleased with the opportunity to support Oregon State and Washington State with affiliate membership. Their addition to the WCC augments the national competitive excellence and fortifies the strength of the Conference across these 12 sports. We look forward to partnering with these institutions as we continue to support our student-athletes, coaches, and programs across the full range of our sponsored sports.”
The addition of Oregon State and Washington State gives the Conference 11 teams in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, volleyball and women’s cross country; 10 teams in men’s golf, nine teams in men’s soccer and women’s tennis; eight teams in women’s rowing and men’s cross country; and six in softball and women’s golf for the 2024-25 seasons.
The WCC announced the addition of Grand Canyon University and Seattle University as full members beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.
“The West Coast Conference is committed to providing opportunities for its membership to compete for national championships, supporting its student-athletes in their goals, and celebrating the achievements of its programs both inside and outside of the athletic arena,” West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson said during the Conference’s announcement on Dec. 22. “The WCC has a great history of national success, and we look forward to continued excellence with the addition of Oregon State and Washington State as affiliate members of the Conference. These are two prestigious institutions with a robust athletics profile that each embody the intrinsic values of the WCC. The Conference and its member institutions provide valuable opportunities in recruiting, scheduling, broadcast exposure and an exceptional student-athlete experience. OSU’s and WSU’s institutional support and passionate fan bases will only enhance this experience across the Conference.”
The WCC’s support for affiliate membership with Oregon State and Washington State provides a partnership that will offer strong competitive opportunities and bolster the profile of each institution and the Conference.
Oregon State and Washington State will be eligible to compete in the WCC’s postseason championship events and earn the Conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Championship for each of the sports they compete in as affiliate members.
