Traditionally, the West Coast Conference is a two-team race — and 2025-26 looks no different, with Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s again battling for supremacy.
But while they fight for wins on the court, another contest is unfolding off it: the race to lead in NIL (Name, Image & Likeness).
In today’s game, dominance isn’t built only on recruiting and coaching — it’s also powered by fans. Through programs like Fan Fuel™ on RallyFuel, supporters can directly help athletes grow their NIL presence and strengthen their teams.
Here’s a look at the conference outlook and the players shaping the WCC 2025-26 season.
1. GONZAGA
The Zags have an outstanding front line anchored by Graham Ike (17. 3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season and Braden Huff (11 points per game). That frontcourt also will get a boost with the return of Steele Venters, who last played at Eastern Washington in the 2022-23 season. Injuries forced Venters to sit out the last two seasons. Coach Mark Few also added forward Tyson Grant, who spent the last two season at Grand Canyon and point guard Mario Saint-Supery, who played in Spain last season.
2. SAINT MARY’S
Coach Randy Bennett’s team went 29-6 last season and the Gaels return a key ingredient in Conference Player of the Year Paulinus Murausakas, who averaged 12.1 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. Murauskas had 13 double-doubles last season. Saint Mary’s also has key players in sophomore guard Mikey Lewis and senior center Harry Wessel, who will tag team in the middle with 7-foot-2 sophomore Andrew McKeever. Top newcomers are San Diego transfer Tony Duckett and Mantas Juzemas, a freshman wing from Lithuania.
3. SAN FRANCISCO
The All-West Coast Conference backcourt of Malik Thomas and Marus Williams is gone. The top returner for the Dons is sophomore wing Tyrone Riley IV, who averaged 9.6 points and six rebounds last season and junior point guard Ryan Beasley will move into the starting lineup after being a key bench player last season. The top transfer is forward Mookie Cook, a former top recruit who struggled in his two seasons at Oregon, but could thrive in a mid-major conference and 7-foot center Guillermo Diaz Graham, another reclamation project who didn’t have much impact in three seasons at Pittsburgh. Freshman guard Weilun Zaho should get plenty of playing time.
4. OREGON STATE
The top five scorers from last season are gone, but junior guard Josiah Lake II and junior forward Isaiah Sy are back and will be stepping into feature roles. The top newcomer is guard Dez White, who averaged 14 points per game at Missouri State last season.
5. WASHINGTON STATE
Six players who combined to average 57 points per game last season have left. Junior forwards ND Okafor and Rihards Vavers return and will be asked to take on starring roles Guard Jerone Morton is the top newcomer. He averaged 10.7 points per game at Morehead State last season.
6. SANTA CLARA
Veteran coach Herb Sendek welcomes back senior forward Elijah Mahi (11.3 points per game last season) as the top returner. Junior forward jake Ensminger and senior guard Brenton Knapper were role players off the bench last season, but could move into starting roles. The top newcomer is guard Thierry Darlan from the Central African Republic.
7. LOYALA MARYMOUNT
The Lions brought in a couple of high-profile in guard Rodney Brown, who spent time at Cal and Virginia Tech and Jalen Shelley (USC). Junior guard Myron Amey jr. and Jan Vide are the top returners. The wild card could be forward Jael Martin, who sat out last season due to an illness.
8. SAN DIEGO
The Toreros will have a whopping 14 newcomers on the roster. That group is led by junior point guard Ty-Lauer, who has spent time at Louisville and Wake Forest, and guard Tonaeari Lane, who averaged 13.8 points at Georgia State last season.
9. SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
The Redhawks will have plenty of experience in the backcourt with seniors John Christofilis, Maleek Arrington and three-point specialist Brayden Maldonado. The frontcourt is a question mark and the Redhawks are hoping forward Junseok Yeo, a transfer from Gonzaga, can step up.
10. PACIFIC
Senior forward Elias Ralph is the only returnee of note, but he’s very noteworthy. Ralph averaged 14.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. Outside of Ralph, Pacific has 15 newcomers. That group is headed by Long Beach state transfer T.J. Wainwright and UC San Diego transfer Justin Rochelin and Lamar transfer Alexis Marmolej.
11. PEPPERDINE
The Waves haven’t been the the NCAA Tournament since 2002 and that drought seems likely to continue. Pepperdine lost its top six scorers from last year. Danilo Dozic, a 6-foot-10 sophomore center will be asked to step into a bigger role after averaging 5.8 points per game last season. Sophomore guard Aaron Clark transferred in from Wake Forest, but redshirted last season due to a hip injury. The top newcomer is freshman forward Vladimir Sudar, who played for the Montenegrin national team the last six years.
12. PORTLAND
After watching his team go 12-20 last season, coach Shantay Legans went to work on bringing in an infusion of talent from two Pennsylvania schools. Point guard Riley Parker averaged 13.4 points while helping St. Francis-PA reached last season’s NCAA Tournament. Forward Matus Hronsky transferred in after three seasons at Duquesne.
How Fans Will Shape the WCC
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s may headline the standings, but the conference’s future will be defined by its fans.
In the NIL era, support equals strength.
RallyFuel makes it simple for fans to fuel their favorite players, help programs build dominant rosters, and show the true power of their communities.You’re not just a spectator anymore — you’re part of the story.
The season is here. Rule the Fuel™.
Leave a Comment