WSU Faces Gonzaga in New WCC Rivalry

LeJuan Watts has become an indispensable player for Washington State University (WSU) amid a season plagued by injuries to key teammates. Watts, who was the Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2023-24, is logging significant minutes and leading the team in rebounds as they prepare for a highly anticipated matchup against No. 18 Gonzaga. This game marks the first meeting between the two as West Coast Conference (WCC) rivals, following WSU's move from the dissolved Pac-12. Both teams have started the season strongly, with Gonzaga boasting a formidable offense led by Graham Ike. The rivalry, revived after a decade, is expected to draw significant attention and test WSU's resilience, especially following a narrow overtime loss to Pacific. WSU players stress the importance of defensive adjustments to counter Gonzaga's high-scoring threats.