Gonzaga Wins 23rd WCC Tournament Championship

Bulldogs rally late to defeat Santa Clara Broncos and earn NCAA Tournament bid

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Gonzaga overcame a tough challenge from Santa Clara to win the West Coast Conference tournament championship, 79-68. The Bulldogs trailed for much of the game but used a 13-4 scoring run late in the second half to pull away and secure their 23rd WCC title. Head coach Mark Few praised his team's resilience and ability to win in different ways this season.

Why it matters

Gonzaga's victory extends their impressive streak of WCC tournament championships, cementing their status as the dominant program in the conference. The win also secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where the Bulldogs will look to make another deep run after reaching the Sweet 16 last year.

The details

Santa Clara gave Gonzaga all it could handle, taking the lead for much of the game and forcing the Bulldogs to play catch-up. But Gonzaga's depth and experience ultimately proved too much, as Mario Saint-Supéry and Tyon Grant-Foster made key plays down the stretch to fuel the comeback. Star center Graham Ike was limited by Santa Clara's defense, but his teammates stepped up to carry the Zags to victory.

  • The WCC tournament championship game was played on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who has led the program to 23 WCC tournament titles.

Graham Ike

The reigning WCC Player of the Year, who was limited by Santa Clara's defense but still contributed to Gonzaga's victory.

Mario Saint-Supéry

A Gonzaga player who hit several key 3-pointers to help the Bulldogs rally in the second half.

Tyon Grant-Foster

A Gonzaga player who took advantage of transition opportunities to spark the team's late surge.

Herb Sendek

The head coach of the Santa Clara Broncos, whose team pushed Gonzaga to the brink before ultimately falling short.

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What they’re saying

“If we can get those stops on defense, secure the rebound, which we had a heck of a time doing tonight, Santa Clara really pounded us on the glass, then we get out and we can run. That's definitely, without a doubt, what we're doing better than anything.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs (SI.com)

“They're an NCAA Tournament team. I told Herb [Sendek] that after the game. I think they're a team that can win a game and maybe several. They got size, they got great guard play. They play great defense. They spread you out because they can really shoot the 3, and they're going to be a tough, tough matchup for somebody, especially with that size and athleticism.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs (SI.com)

What’s next

Gonzaga will now await their seeding and opponent for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where they will look to make another deep run and compete for a national championship.

The takeaway

Gonzaga's ability to rally and win the WCC tournament championship, despite facing adversity and a tough challenge from Santa Clara, demonstrates the program's championship pedigree and resilience. The Bulldogs have established themselves as one of the premier college basketball programs in the country, and this latest title is another step towards their ultimate goal of winning a national title.