Gonzaga University will leave the West Coast Conference (WCC) at the end of the 2025-26 academic year for the rebuilt Pac-12, the latest shift in conference realignment with impact on the University of Portland.
In an Oct. 1 press release, Gonzaga President Thayne McCulloh shared the University’s hope for the new membership.
“[This change will] greatly benefit our student athletes, improve the future for Gonzaga’s athletic programs, and provide new and exciting opportunities for our entire university community,” McCulloh said.
The departure means UP will have one less program to face in athletic competition and will mark the end of matchups against Gonzaga’s highly successful men’s basketball program, games that typically invite huge turnout.
In an email to The Beacon, Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam shared his well wishes for Gonzaga and his hope for the future of the WCC.
“Gonzaga has played an important role in the West Coast Conference for over 40 years and has continuously been a great partner to both the WCC and the University of Portland,” Leykam said. “The collegiate landscape continues to evolve rapidly, and we are confident in the WCC’s ability to keep our conference nationally competitive. We wish Gonzaga the best of luck moving forward.”
Maggie Dapp is the Sports Editor at The Beacon. She can be reached at dapp26@up.edu.
