The West Coast Conference tournament is back in Las Vegas, and once again, the road to the title runs through two familiar programs.
The 2026 Credit Union 1 WCC Men’s Basketball Championship takes place March 5 through March 10 at Orleans Arena. Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s finished tied atop the standings at 16-2 in league play, with Gonzaga (28-3 overall) earning the No. 1 seed via tiebreaker and Saint Mary’s (27-4) landing at No. 2.
If you are looking for the simplest way to understand this bracket, start there. Everything revolves around those two.
The format and how the week unfolds
The WCC uses a staggered bracket that rewards the top teams with multiple byes. Lower seeds have to string together wins just to reach the heavyweights.
First round games tip on Thursday, March 5 on ESPN+. The second round follows Friday, with the third round Saturday. Quarterfinals are Sunday on ESPN2. The semifinals take place Monday, and the championship game tips Tuesday, March 10 on ESPN.
It builds slowly. By the time the top two seeds finally step onto the floor in the semifinals, everyone else has already been tested.
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s again
It feels routine at this point, but that does not make it any less compelling.
Gonzaga has been the league’s measuring stick for two decades. Saint Mary’s has spent the last several seasons proving it is not just a challenger, but a true co-headliner. They split the regular season and finished tied for the title. Saint Mary’s grabbed a 70-59 win in Moraga Saturday.
If both advance to Tuesday night, it will not feel like a surprise. It will feel inevitable.
Gonzaga leans on experience and balance. Graham Ike gives them a reliable interior presence and consistent scoring. Braeden Smith steadies the offense and rarely makes mistakes. When the Zags are in rhythm, they can overwhelm teams in a hurry.
Saint Mary’s plays a different style. The Gaels are patient, physical and comfortable in half-court battles. Paulius Murauskas has been their anchor, producing night after night. Mikey Lewis stretches the floor, and Joshua Dent manages the game with the poise of a veteran. They are built for tournament basketball.
The teams that could shake it up
The middle of the bracket is where things get interesting.
Santa Clara enters as the No. 3 seed and has enough shot-making to scare anyone. If the Broncos get hot, they can turn a semifinal into a track meet. Oregon State sits at No. 4 and has already proven it can grind through tough matchups.
San Francisco at No. 5 is another team that does not mind ugly games. Pacific and Seattle U have shown flashes this season. Washington State, seeded eighth, is capable of dragging games into chaos if given the chance.
That is what makes this week compelling. Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s may be the headliners, but the early rounds are rarely predictable.
The dream of a three-bid WCC hinges on one thing:
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 1, 2026
Santa Clara getting to the title game of the WCC Tournament and picking up another Quad 1 win against Saint Mary's.
Anything less than that and the Broncos will be sweating on Selection Sunday. https://t.co/B9X9BaDO2k
The bracket at a glance
First round, Thursday March 5
No. 9 Portland vs. No. 12 Pepperdine
No. 10 LMU vs. No. 11 San Diego
Second round, Friday March 6
No. 8 Washington State vs. winner of Game 1
No. 7 Seattle U vs. winner of Game 2
Third round, Saturday March 7
No. 5 San Francisco vs. winner of Game 3
No. 6 Pacific vs. winner of Game 4
Quarterfinals, Sunday March 8
No. 4 Oregon State vs. winner of Game 5
No. 3 Santa Clara vs. winner of Game 6
Semifinals, Monday March 9
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. winner of Game 7
No. 2 Saint Mary’s vs. winner of Game 8
Championship, Tuesday March 10
Semifinal winners
What to watch in Las Vegas
This tournament often feels like a waiting game for Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s. But history says not to assume anything. A hot shooting night from a lower seed or an off night from a favorite can change the entire tone of the week.
The atmosphere in Las Vegas only adds to it. By Monday and Tuesday, the building usually feels split between red and blue, and the intensity matches it.
The most likely outcome is another Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s title game with an NCAA tournament bid on the line. The most interesting outcome is someone else forcing their way into the spotlight.
Either way, the bracket is set. The week is defined. And once the ball goes up in Vegas, everything that happened from November through February becomes background noise.