Kristian Ferrell
The West Coast Conference (WCC) men's basketball tournament is an annual event that concludes the NCAA college basketball season for the WCC. The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season. The tournament has been played in various formats since it began in 1987, with seeding based strictly on conference records. The WCC tournament has historically featured a strong rivalry between the Saint Mary's Gaels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs, with the two teams meeting biannually as part of WCC conference play and occasionally in the WCC tournament. The 2025 WCC men's basketball tournament was held from March 6-11, 2025, at Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, with Gonzaga claiming the championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 6-11 March 2025 |
| Location | Orleans Arena, Paradise, Nevada |
| Winner | Gonzaga |
| Participants | All 11 conference teams |
| Format | Stepladder, with the top two seeds receiving byes to the semifinals |
| Seeding | Based on conference record, with ties broken by head-to-head results |
| Broadcasting | Semifinals on ESPN2, championship on ESPN |
| History | Started in 1987, initially played on a rotating basis at members' home courts, moved to a neutral site in 2009 |
| Rivalries | Gaels vs. Zags, Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's |
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What You'll Learn
The 2025 tournament
The 2025 West Coast Conference (WCC) basketball tournament took place from March 6–11, 2025, at the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas. This annual tournament is the concluding event for the NCAA college basketball season in the WCC, with the winner securing a spot in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season.
All 11 WCC teams participated in the 2025 tournament, with seeding based on conference records and head-to-head results used as tiebreakers. The tournament adopted a stepladder format, with the top two seeds, benefiting from their higher ranking, starting in the semifinals, the third and fourth seeds in the quarterfinals, and so on.
Gonzaga emerged as the winner of the 2025 tournament, earning them a place in the 2025 NCAA tournament. This victory added to the rich history of the Gonzaga–Saint Mary's rivalry, often touted as one of the best in college basketball. The two teams have consistently been among the top three in the WCC over the last two decades and have combined to win 26 out of the last 30 conference championship games.
The WCC men's basketball tournament has a long history, dating back to its inception in 1987 when it began with eight members. The tournament has since undergone various format changes, including the introduction of a neutral site in 2009, but it remains a highly anticipated event in the world of college basketball, with the semifinals and championship games broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPN2.
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The Gonzaga-Saint Mary's rivalry
The West Coast Conference (WCC) men's basketball tournament is an annual event, concluding the NCAA college basketball season for the West Coast Conference. The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a place in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season.
The Gonzaga-Saint Mary's men's basketball rivalry is a significant part of the WCC tournament. The rivalry is between the Saint Mary's Gaels men's basketball team of Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. The Gaels vs. Zags rivalry has been described by analysts and media as one of the best college basketball rivalries on the West Coast, with both teams consistently ranking among the top three in the conference over the last two decades.
The two teams have a long history, having played against each other a total of 116 times since 1955. They currently meet twice a year as part of WCC conference play and occasionally a third time in the WCC tournament. As of March 2022, they had met 20 times in the WCC Tournament but never in any postseason tournaments beyond conference play. Saint Mary's has pulled off some impressive upsets against the Zags, including in the 2019 WCC final when they won as an unranked team, and again in 2022 when they were ranked #23.
The rivalry between Gonzaga and Saint Mary's has been characterised by close games and a contrast in playing styles. Saint Mary's has been described as a slower-paced team, while Gonzaga plays with a faster tempo and a highly efficient offense. The teams' coaches, Randy Bennett of Saint Mary's and Mark Few of Gonzaga, have remained consistent directors of their respective programs, contributing to the longstanding nature of this rivalry.
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Tournament format
The West Coast Conference (WCC) men's basketball tournament is an annual event that concludes the NCAA college basketball season for the WCC. The winner of the WCC tournament is guaranteed a place in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season. The tournament has used several formats throughout its history, with seeding based strictly on conference records and tiebreakers used when necessary.
When the WCC tournament began in 1987, with eight members, it employed a standard single-elimination bracket format. This format was reseeded after the first round to pit the highest and lowest remaining seeds against each other. Through 2008, the tournament was played on a rotating basis at the home courts of member teams. In 2009, the tournament shifted to a neutral site, specifically the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas.
The 7-10 seeds compete in what is now termed the "opening round," while the 5 and 6 seeds enter in the "second round," and the 3 and 4 seeds in the "third round." The top two seeds receive a bye directly into the semifinals. This format is known as a stepladder format, which was adopted for the 2025 tournament.
The WCC tournament has witnessed a notable rivalry between the Saint Mary's Gaels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs, with both teams consistently ranking among the top three in the conference over the last two decades. They have faced off a total of 116 times since 1955 and meet biannually as part of WCC conference play, with the possibility of additional encounters in the WCC and postseason tournaments. As of March 2022, they have clashed 20 times in the WCC Tournament but have never met in any postseason tournaments beyond the conference level.
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Location
The West Coast Conference (WCC) is an annual tournament that concludes the NCAA college basketball season for colleges in the West Coast Conference. The winner of the WCC tournament is guaranteed a place in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season.
The location of the WCC tournament has changed over the years. Until 2008, the tournament was played on a rotating basis at the home courts of member teams. In 2009, the tournament moved to a neutral site, the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas. This arena has hosted the tournament multiple times, including in 2025, when all tournament games were played there from March 6-11.
The WCC tournament features a rivalry between the Saint Mary's Gaels of Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. This rivalry has been touted by many analysts and media members as one of the best college basketball rivalries on the West Coast, as both teams have consistently been among the top three in the conference over the last two decades.
The Gaels and the Zags have met a total of 116 times since 1955, including 20 meetings in the WCC Tournament as of March 2022. Saint Mary's has upset a number-one-ranked Gonzaga squad twice: in the 2019 WCC final as an unranked team, and again in 2022 as the #23 team in Moraga.
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History
The West Coast Conference (WCC) men's basketball tournament is the annual concluding tournament for the NCAA college basketball West Coast Conference. The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a place in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season. The tournament began in 1987 when the conference had eight members. It used a standard single-elimination bracket that was reseeded after the first round so that the highest and lowest remaining seeds played one another.
Through 2008, the tournament was played on a rotating basis at the home courts of member teams. The 2009 edition was the first played at a neutral site, namely Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas. The semifinals are broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and the championship game is broadcast on ESPN.
The WCC adopted a new format in 2014 to incorporate a tenth team (Pacific). The new format is a traditional 10-team tournament. Seeds 1-6 received a bye into the quarterfinals while 7 played 10 and 8 played 9 in the first round. The second round featured the winner of the 7/10 match playing the 2-seed while the winner of the 8/9 match played the 1 seed. The 3 seed played the 6 seed, and the 4 seed played the 5 seed.
The 1990 tournament final was canceled following the on-court death of Loyola Marymount player Hank Gathers during the Lions' semifinal game against Portland. LMU was given the league's automatic bid to that year's NCAA tournament by virtue of its regular-season league championship.
Gonzaga and Saint Mary's have combined to win 26 out of the last 30 conference championship games, including each of the last 16. The two teams have met a total of 116 times dating back to 1955 and currently meet biannually as part of WCC conference play, with the potential to play a third game in the WCC tournament and a fourth in the postseason. As of March 2022, they had met 20 times in the WCC Tournament but had never met in any postseason tournaments beyond the end of conference play.
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Frequently asked questions
The West Coast Conference (WCC) basketball tournament is held annually in March.
The tournament games are played at Orleans Arena in the Las Vegas-area community of Paradise, Nevada.
All 11 conference teams participate in the tournament. The teams are seeded by their record within the conference, with ties broken by head-to-head results.
The tournament has a stepladder format. The top two seeds receive byes into the semifinals, the third and fourth seeds start in the quarterfinals, and the lower seeds play in the opening rounds.
The winner of the tournament is guaranteed a place in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for that season.
