Oregon State, Gonzaga, Washington State Lead 2025-26 WCC Basketball Preseason Polls

In the 2025-2026 West Coast Conference (WCC) women's basketball preseason poll, Oregon State was favored to win the league, receiving nine of twelve first-place votes, followed by Gonzaga and Washington State, which was picked to finish third. Oregon State, under coach Scott Rueck, aims to build on its first WCC title from the previous season, while Washington State, coached by Kamie Ethridge, returns six players and seeks to capitalize on a competitive team atmosphere. Gonzaga, which had dominated the WCC for years, was not the preseason favorite for the first time in five years but is still expected to compete strongly despite roster changes. The WCC men's basketball preseason coaches' poll also saw Gonzaga picked to win, receiving nine first-place votes, continuing their long-standing dominance in the conference. Washington State men's team was picked to finish sixth in the men's poll and will start their season with an exhibition game against New Mexico, followed by a regular-season opener against Idaho. Both the men's and women's teams from these schools are preparing for their final WCC seasons before transitioning to the Pac-12 Conference.