New Washington State AD Anne McCoy Comments on WSU-Gonzaga Basketball Rivalry

Joe Londergan | Jul 6, 2024

Mar 5, 2022; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars mascot Butch perform against the Oregon Ducks in the second half at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. Washington St. won 94-74. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

For the next two years, Washington State will compete as members of the West Coast Conference in 12 sports, including men's and women's basketball. This means that Washington State will face a familiar foe with conference title implications when they play the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Bulldogs reside just under 90 minutes away from Pullman in Spokane.

Newly promoted athletic director Anne McCoy recently did an interview for Inlander.com, where stated her excitement for regular meetings with the local rival.

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"It's truly great for our fans, especially since we're just down the road from each other. It's really great for the fans to have some high quality competition on the West Coast."

"So far it's been amazing. All of us in many ways are colleagues with each other and have been playing as nonconference rivals, so it's going to be cool to give fans and students a new experience for where they can play."

- Anne McCoy to Inlander.com

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On the men's side, WSU and Gonzaga have not played since 2015. Going back to 1907, WSU lead the all-time series with the Zags 98-51. They will play twice this season with one game at each campus.

On the women's side, Washington State won their 2023 meeting with Gonzaga 77-72. The Cougs lead that series 7-10 since it began in 1999.

McCoy will be officially introduced to the media in her new post July 16 at the Alger Family Club Room at Gesa Field.