The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, Texas, Utah and Washington.
The Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Even though the WAC was founded in 1962, the annual tournament has only been held since 1984.
The WAC women's basketball tournament is the conference championship tournament in basketball for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The WAC has held a postseason tournament to crown a women's basketball champion every year since 1991. At first the regular season champion hosted it but at its height, the tournament was held at larger urban venues. With the departure of the Mountain West Conference teams, the tournament had returned to campus, with each game in the tournament being held in one campus venue, each year. Since 2011, the tournament has been held at the Orleans Arena, part of the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The 2013 Western Athletic Conference men's soccer season is the fifth season of men's varsity soccer in the conference, and the first since 1999. The conference first sponsored the sport in 1996, but after eight schools split from the WAC in 1999 to form the Mountain West Conference (MW), the WAC only played the 1999 season before disbanding its men's soccer league.
The 2013–14 Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball team represented Utah Valley University in the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Dick Hunsaker entered his twelfth season as the UVU head coach. The Wolverines played their home games at the UCCU Center as new members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 20–12, 13–3 in WAC play to win the WAC regular season championship. They advanced to the semifinals of the WAC tournament where they lost to Idaho. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to California.
The 2015 WAC men's soccer tournament was the 7th edition of the tournament. It determined the Western Athletic Conference's automatic berth into the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.
The 2016–17 Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners men's basketball team represented California State University, Bakersfield during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by sixth-year head coach Rod Barnes, played their home games at the Icardo Center as members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 25–10, 12–2 in WAC play to win the regular season WAC championship. They defeated Utah Valley to advance to the championship game of the WAC tournament where they lost to New Mexico State. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament. As a No. 8 seed, they defeated California, Colorado State, and Texas–Arlington to become the first No. 8 seed to advance to the semifinals since the NIT introduced seeding in 2006. In the semifinals at Madison Square Garden they lost to Georgia Tech.
The 2017 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from November 1–5, 2017. The five match tournament took place at GCU Stadium in Phoenix on the campus of Grand Canyon University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular season conference play. The defending champions were the Seattle Redhawks, but they failed to defend their title after losing the penalty shoot-out tiebreaking procedure following a tie with the Utah Valley Wolverines in the final. This was the second WAC women's soccer tournament championship for the Utah Valley women's soccer program and the first for first-year head coach Chris Lemay.
The 2018 Western Athletic Conference men's soccer season is the 23rd consecutive competition of men's college soccer in the Western Athletic Conference under the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The season will feature twelve teams, where five are affiliate members of the conference. Air Force, San Jose State, and UNLV will compete from the Mountain West Conference, while Houston Baptist and Incarnate Word come from the Southland Conference. Colleges in the WAC will begin competition on August 24, 2018, and conclude on November 9, 2018 after the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. Prior to the NCAA Division I Tournament Championship, there will be a postseason conference tournament held in Seattle, Washington at the Championship Field, where the winner is guaranteed to represent the WAC in the NCAA Division I Tournament. The California Baptist Lancers are ineligible for postseason as they are in transition to the NCAA Division I level. Chicago State and New Mexico State have defunct programs in this season.
The 2018 WAC men's soccer tournament was the 11th edition of the tournament. It determined the Western Athletic Conference's automatic berth into the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.
The 2018 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from October 31 to November 4, 2018. The five match tournament took place at Clyde Field in Orem, Utah on the campus of Utah Valley University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular season conference play. The defending champions were the Utah Valley Wolverines, but they failed to defend their title after losing 3–0 to the UMKC Kangaroos in the semifinals. The tournament champions were the Seattle Redhawks, who defeated UMKC 1–0 in the final. This was the fourth WAC women's soccer tournament championship for the Seattle women's soccer program, all of which have come under head coach Julie Woodward.
The 2019 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from November 6 to November 10, 2019. The five match tournament took place at Championship Field in Seattle, Washington on the campus of Seattle University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular season conference play. The defending champions were the Seattle Redhawks, who successfully defended their title, defeating Utah Valley 2–1 in the final. This was the fifth WAC women's soccer tournament championship for the Seattle women's soccer program, all of which have come under head coach Julie Woodward.
The 2021–22 WAC men's basketball season began with practices in October 2021 followed by the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November 2021. The conference began play in December 2021. This is the WAC's 60th season of basketball. On July 1, 2021, The WAC officially welcomed four new members: Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin to grow and revitalize the conference. All four were previously in the Southland Conference. The WAC now has 6 full members in Texas, making it the largest DI conference in the state. Each WAC member will play an 18-game conference schedule.
The 2020 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament, delayed due to COVID-19 until Spring, 2021, was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from April 13 to April 17, 2021. The five match tournament took place at GCU Stadium in Phoenix, AZ on the campus of Grand Canyon University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular season conference play. The No. 1 seed Utah Valley defeated No. 2 seed Seattle Redhawks 1–0 in the final.
The 2021 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from November 3 to November 7, 2021. The five-match tournament took place at Elmer Gray Stadium in Abilene, TX on the campus of Abilene Christian University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular-season divisional conference play. The defending champions were the Utah Valley Wolverines. Utah Valley was unable to defend their crown, falling 3–0 against Grand Canyon in the final. This was Grand Caynon's first WAC Tournament victory in program history as well as the first victory for head coach Chris Cissell. As tournament champions, Grand Canyon earned the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The 2021 Western Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament was the postseason men's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from November 10 to November 14, 2021. The five-match tournament took place at GCU Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona on the campus of Grand Canyon University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular-season divisional conference play. The defending champions were the Air Force Falcons. Air Force was unable to defend their crown, falling 2–2 in a penalty shoot-out against San Jose State in the First Round. Seattle went on to win the title over Grand Canyon in a penalty shoot-out. This was Seattle's fifth WAC Tournament victory in program history all of which have come under head coach Pete Fewing. As tournament champions, Seattle earned the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The 2022 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from November 2 to November 6, 2022. The five-match tournament took place at Championship Field Stadium in Seattle, Washington on the campus of Seattle University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular-season divisional conference play. The defending champions were the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon was unable to defend their crown, falling 3–2 against Utah Valley in the Semifinal. New Mexico State would go on to defeat Utah Valley in the Final, 1–0 to win the tournament. This was the first WAC Tournament victory in New Mexico State program history as well as the first victory for head coach Rob Baarts. As tournament champions, New Mexico State earned the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The 2022 Western Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament was the postseason men's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from November 9 to November 13, 2022. The five-match tournament took place at CBU Soccer Field in Riverside, California on the campus of California Baptist University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular-season divisional conference play. The defending champions were the Seattle Redhawks. Seattle was unable to defend their crown, falling 4–0 to San Jose State in the Semifinals. California Baptist went on to win the title in a penalty shoot-out against San Jose State. This was California Baptist's first WAC Tournament victory in program history and first for head coach Coe Michaelson. As tournament champions, California Baptist earned the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The 2023–24 WAC men's basketball season began with practices in October followed by the start of the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in early November 2023. The conference began play in late November 2023. This is the WAC's 62nd season of basketball. The WAC competed with 11 teams due to two teams having left the conference since the prior season. Both New Mexico State and Sam Houston State joined Conference USA effective July 1, 2023. The WAC tournament will be held March 13–16, 2024 with the top eight teams competing for the automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 2023 Western Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament was the postseason women's soccer tournament for the Western Athletic Conference held from October 29 to November 4, 2023. The five-match tournament took place at CBU Soccer Field in Riverside, California on the campus of California Baptist University. The six-team single-elimination tournament consisted of three rounds based on seeding from regular-season divisional conference play. The defending champions were the New Mexico State Aggies. New Mexico State was unable to defend their title as the moved to Conference USA during the off-season. Grand Canyon would go on to defeat Seattle in the Final, 4–2 to win the tournament. This was the second WAC Tournament victory in Grand Canyon program history, both of which have come under head coach Chris Cissell. This was the second tournament title in three years for Grand Canyon. As tournament champions, Grand Canyon earned the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
