Pac-12: A New Era Amidst Changes

Killed by greed and mismanagement in the summer of 2023, the Pac-12 has undergone significant changes.

The newly formed Pac-12, set to debut on July 1, 2026, will include just two remaining teams, known as The Left-Behinds: Oregon and Washington State. The conference looks to strengthen its lineup by adding members from the Mountain West, like Boise, Fresno, Colorado, San Diego, and Utah. Gonzaga, known for its basketball prowess, joins as the only non-football member from the West Coast Conference, while Texas comes in as the easternmost addition to this nine-team league.

Simultaneously, CBS has announced it will become the primary broadcast partner for a new television contract starting in 2031, allowing college sports fans to follow these nine schools across CBS, CBS Sports Network, and Paramount+.

Since the announcement, the Pac-12’s social media has been actively promoting its men’s basketball and soccer achievements. Boise State has impressive records, though they’ve stepped back from college football playoff contention. Gonzaga has made a mark in the NCAA tournaments, reaching the Final Four and two Elite Eights in the last decade. Notably, seven out of the nine new teams have participated in at least one men’s NCAA tournament since 2021.

This raises a question, though: what about women’s basketball? How well will the new Pac-12 perform in this area?

Well, that really depends on how the league shapes up. If your hope is for a return to the glory days, when more than half of the teams made the NCAA Tournament every year, then you might feel let down. The current iteration of the Pac-12 lacks the depth of talent found in its predecessor.

However, if you’re a bit more optimistic and believe this could be among the top meetings in women’s basketball, then I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Looking at the nine teams, there’s a clear hierarchy in women’s basketball performance.

Starting with Fresno, Texas, and Utah—these are the three teams yet to appear in the NCAA tournament over the past decade.

If there’s a team with potential, it might be Fresno, which has had two seasons with over 20 wins in the last ten years. After Jaime White retired, they brought in Ryan McCarthy, who had a strong record at Division II Alaska Anchorage. If he can make an impact, it could elevate the conference’s overall level.

Utah State has struggled, with a sixth consecutive losing season and no NCAA appearances to date. Wesley Brooks, who previously worked with notable coaches, is now entering his second season there. Unlike the rest, Utah hasn’t finished a season above a certain standard in the past decade.

Texas shares a similar fate, with no NCAA tournament appearances since 2002. Zenara Antoine, now in her 15th season at the helm, holds a 50.1 win percentage. If she succeeds this season, it would mark her fourth different conference in Texas coaching.

Next, we have Boise, Colorado, and San Diego. Each of these schools has enjoyed some level of consistent success recently.

Colorado, for instance, has had NCAA Tournament appearances along with multiple WNIT trips, showing steady improvement since the 2015-16 season.

Boise State had a strong run when they won four consecutive Mountain West titles from 2017 to 2020, but their performance has leveled off a bit since. They’ve still achieved significant victories against higher-ranked opponents over the last decade.

San Diego State is on the rise under Stacie Terry-Hutson, recently qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. They’ve recorded three seasons with over 20 wins recently.

At the top of the league are teams like Oregon, Washington, and Gonzaga, which have seen considerable success in women’s basketball over the past decade.

Oregon’s standout record includes a Final Four appearance in 2016 and two Elite Eights since then. Despite some roster changes, they reached the NCAA Tournament again last year, showcasing their resilience.

Gonzaga has made seven NCAA tournament trips over the last decade, consistently winning against ranked teams and achieving over 20 wins in nine of the past ten seasons.

Washington State had success too, qualifying for three straight NCAA tournaments between 2021 and 2023. Their coach, Kamie Ethridge, keeps the team competitive, boasting significant wins against ranked opponents.

Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, it’s hard to see the new Pac-12 achieving three NCAA Tournament bids. The Ivy League has made strides recently, and signature programs like Oregon, Washington, and Gonzaga will strive to secure tough matchups to boost their profiles. If the remaining teams can also improve their non-conference performances, that would surely be beneficial for the league.