Utah Valley is the favorite to win the men’s WAC championship and go to the NCAA Tournament, but it may not get a chance to after the conference demanded it pay — or get excluded from the conference tournament.
The WAC announced on Tuesday, March 10 that Utah Valley ‘has not complied’ with a Utah judge’s order that the university place $1 million in escrow with the court. As a result, the conference board of directors has instructed commissioner Rebekah Ray to not include the men’s and women’s basketball teams in the WAC tournaments since ‘it would be a member not in good standing.’
It added Utah Valley must comply with the court directive by 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday or it will release new brackets without the Wolverines.
‘The conference regrets that the intentional actions of Utah Valley University have caused uncertainty and harm for institutions, student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans across the WAC — including at Utah Valley University,’ it said in the statement.
USA TODAY Sports has reached out to Utah Valley for comment.
Why is WAC demanded Utah Valley pay $1 million?
Utah Valley and the WAC have been at odds with each other ever since the university announced in June it would be leaving the conference to join the Big West beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
In February, the WAC filed a lawsuit in Texas, alleging Utah Valley refused to pay its contractually obligated exit fee of $1 million. As a result, the WAC barred Wolverines athletics from conference tournaments, NCAA tournaments as well as appearing on conference-sponsored television, radio or other media packages. Utah Valley then sued the WAC seeking an injunction to allow its teams to play in WAC tournaments.
A Utah court granted Utah Valley a temporary restraining order to allow its teams to participate in WAC tournaments, and it was just granted a motion for a preliminary injunction for its basketball teams.
Utah Valley was directed to pay the court $1 million to be held during the dispute.
Utah Valley WAC tournament
If the Wolverines are taken out of the WAC tournament, it will have major ramifications, as they will not be able to get the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The men’s basketball team was the regular season champion and the No. 1 seed in the tournament. It is slated to begin play on Friday, March 13 in the semifinals. The Wolverines are projected to be a No. 13 seed in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology.
The women’s basketball team is the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament and is scheduled to play Tarleton State in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12.