Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament

Pac-12 women's basketball tournament
Conference basketball championship
SportBasketball
ConferencePac-12 Conference
Number of teams10 (2002–2011)
12 (2012–2024)
8+ (2027–future)
FormatSingle-elimination tournament
Current stadiumMichelob Ultra Arena
Current locationParadise, NV
Played2002–2024, 2027–future
Last contest2024
Current championUSC (2)
Most championshipsStanford Cardinal (15)
TV partner(s)Pac-12 Network and ESPN
Official websitePac-12.com Women's Basketball
Host stadiums
McArthur Court (2002)
HP Pavilion (2003–2008)
Galen Center (2009, 2010, 2012)
Staples Center (2011)
KeyArena (2013–2018)
MGM Grand Garden Arena (2019, 2024)
Michelob Ultra Arena (2020–2023)
Host locations
Eugene, Oregon (2002)
San Jose, California (2003–2008)
Los Angeles, California (2009–2012)
Seattle, Washington (2013–2018)
Paradise, Nevada (2019–present)

The Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament, otherwise known as the Pac-12 tournament, was the annual concluding tournament for the NCAA women's college basketball in the Pac-12. After a six-year run at KeyArena in Seattle from 2013 to 2018, the tournament moved to the Las Vegas Strip, already the location for the Pac-12 men's tournament, for at least 2019 and 2020, due to the closure of KeyArena for major renovations to accommodate the Seattle Kraken.

Seeding is based on regular season records. The Tournament was held every year from 2002 to 2024. From 2002 to 2010, it was called the Pac-10.

On March 5, 2016, the Pac-12 announced that it had agreed to extend its contract to keep the women's tournament in Seattle until 2019.[1] However, the conference ended the contract a season early, moving the women's tournament to the Las Vegas Strip for 2019 and 2020 because KeyArena was slated for a major two-year renovation and upgrade. The 2019 tournament was held at MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the 2020 edition was at Mandalay Bay Events Center.[2]

On October 4, 2019, the Pac-12 announced that it had agreed to extend its contract to keep the women's tournament in Las Vegas until 2022.[3]

The Pac-12 lost all but two of its members after the 2023–24 season, leading the remaining members, Oregon State and Washington State, to become affiliates of the West Coast Conference in most sports, including women's basketball, in 2024–25 and 2025–26.[4] However, in a span of less than three weeks in September 2024, the Pac-12 added six new members effective in 2026–27—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Utah State.[5][6][7] With eight confirmed members, the conference tournament is likely to resume in 2027.

  1. ^ "Pac-12 agrees to extension to keep Women's Basketball Tournament in Seattle through 2019" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  2. ^ "Las Vegas to showcase best of Pac-12 basketball with hosting of Women's Tournament & Extension of Men's Tournament" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. March 8, 2018. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Pac-12 Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments to Continue in Las Vegas Through 2022 Events" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  4. ^ Forsman, Cole (2023-12-21). "West Coast Conference votes to add Washington State, Oregon State in non-football sports". Gonzaga Nation. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  5. ^ "Ushering in a new era, the Pac-12 Conference strengthens its legacy by welcoming four respected academic and athletic universities" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. ^ "Pac-12 Conference and Utah State University Unite to Advance the New Era of the 100-Year-Old Legacy" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Pac-12 Conference and Gonzaga University Unite to Build a Basketball Powerhouse, Advancing the New Era of the Conference's 100-Year Legacy" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. September 30, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.