Editing Western Athletic Conference

{{Short description|American college athletics conference}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox sports league
| name            = Western Athletic Conference
| color           = #98002E; {{box-shadow border|a|#D9D4CC|2px}}
| font_color      = #FFFFFF
| title           = 
| logo            = Western Athletic Conference logo.svg
| logo_size       = 
| founded         = {{Start date and age|1962|7|27}}
| dissolved       = 
| association     = [[NCAA]]
| division        = [[NCAA Division I|Division I]]
| subdivision     = Non-football
| teams           = 9 (8 in 2025, 6 in 2026)
| sports          = 20
| mens            = 10
| womens          = 10
| region          = [[Southwestern United States]]<br/>[[Pacific Northwest]]
| headquarters    = [[Arlington, Texas]]
| commissioner    = Rebekah Ray
| since           = March 13, 2025
| website         = {{URL|https://wacsports.com/}}
| map             = Map - Western Athletic Conference.svg
| map_size        = 250
}}

The '''Western Athletic Conference''' ('''WAC''') is an [[NCAA Division I]] conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the [[Western United States]] with member institutions located in [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Texas]], [[Utah]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington]].

Due to most of the conference's [[College football|football]]-playing members leaving the WAC for other affiliations, the conference discontinued football as a sponsored sport after the [[2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2012–13 season]], left the NCAA's [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|Football Bowl Subdivision]] (formerly known as Division I-A) and became one of the NCAA's eleven Division I non-football conferences.<ref name="WAC drops football after 2012 season">{{cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2012/08/20/wac-to-drop-football-after-2012-season-commissioner-hurd-says/|title=WAC to drop football after 2012 season, commissioner Hurd says|first=Irv|last=Moss|date=August 20, 2012|work=[[The Denver Post]]|access-date=July 31, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823002638/http://www.denverpost.com:80/colleges/ci_21355122/wac-drop-football-after-2012-season|archive-date=August 23, 2012}}</ref> The WAC thus became the first Division I conference to drop football since the [[Big West]] in 2000. The WAC then added men's soccer. The WAC underwent a major expansion on July 1, 2021, with four schools joining. The conference reinstated football at that time, competing in the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Football Championship Subdivision]] (FCS). One year later, on July 1, 2022, one FCS football school ([[Lamar Cardinals and Lady Cardinals|Lamar]]) and one non-football school ([[Chicago State Cougars|Chicago State]]) left, and one FCS football school ([[Southern Utah Thunderbirds|Southern Utah]]) and one non-football school ([[UT Arlington]]) joined.<ref name="WAC 2022">{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20210113xbg9zk |title=WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Martinez>{{cite news|url=https://www.caller.com/story/sports/college/texas-a-and-m-university-corpus-christi/2021/01/14/four-schools-announce-departure-southland-conference-wac/4159945001/ |title=Four Texas schools announce departure from Southland Conference for WAC |first=Quinton |last=Martinez |newspaper=[[Corpus Christi Caller-Times]] |date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Dean>{{cite news|url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/Why-the-Texas-four-left-for-the-Southland-for-the-15872344.php |title=Why the Texas four left for [''sic''] the Southland for the WAC |first=Richard |last=Dean |newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]] |date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220120nrv7nj |title=University of Texas at Arlington Accepts Invitation to Join WAC |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LAMAR UNIVERSITY PREPARES FOR EARLY MOVE TO SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE |url=https://www.southland.org/news/2022/7/11/general-lamar-university-prepares-for-early-move-to-southland-conference.aspx |website=southland.org |publisher=Southland Conference |access-date=July 11, 2022}}</ref> The WAC again became a non-football conference in 2023, when the WAC and the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] (ASUN) merged their FCS football leagues as the [[United Athletic Conference]].

==Members==
===Existing full members===
These institutions are the existing full members of the Western Athletic Conference:

{{color box|#90ee90}} Member departing for the [[Big West Conference]] on July 1, 2026.<br>{{color box|#ffa0a0}} Member departing for the [[Mountain West Conference]] on July 1, 2026.<br>{{color box|#add8e6}} Member departing for the [[West Coast Conference]] on July 1, 2025.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Institution
!Location
!Founded
!Joined
!Type
!Enrollment
!Endowment 
(Millions)
!Nickname
! class="unsortable"|Colors
|-
| '''[[Abilene Christian University]]'''
| [[Abilene, Texas]]
| 1906
| 2021
| Private<br/>([[Churches of Christ]])
| 6,730<ref>{{cite web |date=September 8, 2021 |title=ACU achieves record enrollment for fourth year in a row |url=https://acu.edu/2024/09/13/acu-achieves-seventh-consecutive-year-of-record-enrollment/ |access-date=September 27, 2021 |publisher=Abilene Christian University}}</ref>
| $824
| [[Abilene Christian Wildcats|Wildcats]]
| {{college color boxes|Abilene Christian Wildcats}}
|-bgcolor=#90ee90
| '''[[California Baptist University]]'''
| [[Riverside, California]]
| 1950
| 2018
| Private<br/>([[California Southern Baptist Convention|Baptist]])
| {{nts|11491}}<ref>{{cite web |title=CBU Fall 2021 enrollment extends record-setting pattern |url=https://calbaptist.edu/news/cbu_fall_2021_enrollment_extends_record_setting_pattern |publisher=California Baptist University |access-date=September 27, 2021 |date=September 24, 2021}}</ref>
| $119.1
| [[California Baptist Lancers|Lancers]]
| {{college color boxes|California Baptist Lancers}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| '''[[Grand Canyon University]]'''
| [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| 1949
| 2013
| Private For-Profit<br/>([[Nondenominational Christianity|Non-denominational]])
| {{nts|103427}}{{efn|group=full|Includes online students. On-campus enrollment is about 25,300.}}
| $21.6
| [[Grand Canyon Antelopes|Antelopes]]
| {{college color boxes|Grand Canyon Antelopes}}
|-bgcolor=#add8e6
| '''[[Seattle University]]'''
| [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]
| 1891
| 2012
| Private<br/>([[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]])
| {{nts|7755}}
| $241.2
| [[Seattle Redhawks|Redhawks]]
| {{college color boxes|Seattle Redhawks}}
|-
| '''[[Southern Utah University]]'''
| [[Cedar City, Utah]]
| 1897
| 2022
| Public
| 15,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=SUU Enrollment Tops 15,000 Students |url=https://www.suu.edu/news/2023/10/enrollment-growth.html |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=SUU |language=en}}</ref>
| $29.9<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Utah University - Data USA|url=https://datausa.io/profile/university/southern-utah-university}}</ref>
| [[Southern Utah Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds]]
| {{college color boxes|Southern Utah Thunderbirds}}
|-
| '''[[Tarleton State University]]'''<br/>(Tarleton)
| [[Stephenville, Texas]]
| 1899
| 2020
| Public<br/>([[Texas A&M University System|TAMUS]])
| {{nts|13996}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarleton Fall 2021 Student Tally Beats Pre-pandemic Figures by 6.2% |url=https://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?ID=6711 |publisher=Tarleton State University |access-date=September 27, 2021 |date=September 7, 2021 |archive-date=February 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219061717/https://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?ID=6711 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| $42
| [[Tarleton State Texans|Texans]]
| {{college color boxes|Tarleton State Texans}}
|-
| {{sort|Texas–Arlington|'''[[University of Texas at Arlington]]'''}}<br/>(UT Arlington)
| [[Arlington, Texas]]
| 1895
| 2012; 2022{{efn|group=full|UT Arlington was a non-football member in 2012–13 before rejoining the conference in 2022–23.}}
| Public<br/>([[University of Texas System|UTS]])
|{{nts|42863}}<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Texas at Arlington UTA sets new enrollment records |url=https://www.uta.edu/enrollment-management/_downloads/Fall%202019%20Enrollment%20Summary.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507122646/https://www.uta.edu/enrollment-management/_downloads/Fall%202019%20Enrollment%20Summary.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |publisher=University of Texas at Arlington |access-date=January 28, 2020 }}</ref>
| $218<ref name="UTIMCO">{{cite web|title=Private Endowments |url=https://www.utimco.org/reports/private-endowments/group/?comp=05|work=UTIMCO|access-date=August 6, 2021}}</ref>
| [[UT Arlington Mavericks|Mavericks]]
| {{college color boxes|UT Arlington Mavericks}}
|-
| '''[[Utah Tech University]]'''{{efn|group=full|Utah Tech University was known as Dixie State University until May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dixie State gets final approval from Utah lawmakers to drop contentious name|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2021/11/10/dixie-state-university/|access-date=November 12, 2021|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref>}}
| {{sort|Saint George|[[St. George, Utah]]}}
| 1911
| 2020
| Public
| {{nts|12650}}
| $16.3
| [[Utah Tech Trailblazers|Trailblazers]]
| {{college color boxes|Dixie State Trailblazers}}
|-
| '''[[Utah Valley University]]'''
| [[Orem, Utah]]
| 1941
| 2013
| Public
| {{nts|41728}}
| $100<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Avery |title=President's Scholarship Ball Raises Funds to Sustain the Aspirations of UVU Students |url=https://www.uvu.edu/news/2023/10/2023_10_09_scholarship_ball.html |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=www.uvu.edu |language=en}}</ref>
| [[Utah Valley Wolverines|Wolverines]]
| {{college color boxes|Utah Valley Wolverines}}
|-
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=full}}

<!-- ===Future members===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Institution
!Location
!Founded
!Type
!Enrollment
!Endowment
!Nickname
!Colors
!Conference
|}
 -->

===Affiliate members===
These nine schools field programs in the WAC for sports not sponsored by their primary conferences:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Institution
!Location
!Founded
!Type
!Enrollment
!Nickname
!Primary<br>conference
!WAC<br>sport(s)
!Joined
!Former<br>full<br>member
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{sort|Air Force|'''[[United States Air Force Academy]]'''}}<br/>(Air Force){{efn|group=assoc|name=soccer|Four schools became affiliate members in men's soccer in July 2013; the WAC announced on January 9, 2013, that it would reinstate the sport, which it had sponsored from 1996 to 1999. Because the conference previously dropped football, it was necessary to add a new men's team sport to maintain its Division I status. It chose men's soccer because three of the confirmed members for 2013–14 (CSU Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, and Seattle) already sponsored the sport, and filled out its soccer ranks by attracting four schools from the [[Mountain Pacific Sports Federation]]. Three of these schools have past WAC connections—former full members Air Force, UNLV, and San Jose State.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://gorunners.com/news/2013/1/9/205897861.aspx|title=WAC Adds Men's Soccer|website=CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners|date=January 9, 2013|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103418/https://gorunners.com/news/2013/1/9/205897861.aspx?path=msoc|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> After the WAC announced it would add men's soccer, the conference gained an eighth soccer school for the 2013 season when UMKC, which already sponsored the sport, joined. In addition, Utah Valley added the sport for 2014, UT-Pan American (later known as UT Rio Grande Valley) added it for 2015, and Chicago State was slated to add it for 2016 but did not do so until 2020 (by which time UMKC returned to the Summit League under its athletic identity of Kansas City).}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=swim|Four schools (three of which are former WAC full members: Air Force, UNLV, and Wyoming; and North Dakota) became affiliate members in men's swimming and diving in July 2013; the WAC announced on May 16, 2013, that it would reinstate the sport, which it had sponsored from 1962 to 2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gculopes.com/news/2013/5/16/MSWIM_0516134420.aspx|title=WAC Reinstates Men's Swimming & Diving|website=GCU Antelopes|date=May 16, 2013|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051753/http://www.gculopes.com/news/2013/5/16/MSWIM_0516134420.aspx?path=mswim|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=mswim|The WAC will cease sponsoring men's swimming and diving once again after the 2024–25 athletic season, when Grand Canyon and Seattle will move their programs to the [[Big West Conference]] and California Baptist will move its program to the [[Mountain Pacific Sports Federation]].<ref name="swim">{{cite press release|title=MPSF Swim & Dive Adds Seven Schools in 2025-26|url=https://mpsports.org/news/2025/2/13/swimming-diving-mpsf-swim-dive-adds-seven-schools-in-2025-26.aspx|publisher=[[Mountain Pacific Sports Federation]]|date=February 12, 2025|access-date=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The remaining WAC men's swimming & diving affiliates has not yet announced a future affiliation for their respective men's swimming & diving programs.}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Air Force Academy, Colorado|USAF Academy, Colorado]]{{efn|group=assoc|Virtually all of the Academy grounds, including the [[United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Area|cadet area]] and all athletic facilities, is outside the [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]] city limits. The U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Postal Service respectively designate the Academy as "Air Force Academy" and "USAF Academy".}}
| rowspan="2" | 1955
| rowspan="2" | Federal
| rowspan="2" | 4,413
| rowspan="2" | [[Air Force Falcons men's soccer|Falcons]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| rowspan="2" | 2013–14
| {{yes}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| {{sortname|Men's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| {{yes}}
|- 
| {{sort|Sacramento|'''[[California State University, Sacramento]]'''}}<br/>(Sacramento State){{efn|group=assoc|Sacramento State was formerly an associate member of the WAC in baseball from 1992–93 to 1995–96.}}
| [[Sacramento, California]]
| 1947
| Public
| 27,972
| [[Sacramento State Hornets|Hornets]]
| [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]
| Baseball
| 2005–06
! {{no}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| {{sort|Idaho|'''[[University of Idaho]]'''}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=wswim| The WAC will cease sponsoring women's swimming and diving after the 2024–25 athletic season. All WAC affiliates for that sport will move their respective programs to the [[Mountain Pacific Sports Federation]] beginning in the 2025–26 athletic season.<ref name="swim" />}}
| [[Moscow, Idaho]]
| 1889
| Public
| 12,312
| [[Idaho Vandals|Vandals]]
| [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]
| {{sortname|Women's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| 2014–15
| {{yes}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{sort|UNLV|'''[[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]]'''}}<br/>(UNLV){{efn|group=assoc|name=soccer}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=swim}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=mswim}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada]]{{efn|group=assoc|The UNLV campus is outside of the [[Las Vegas]] city limits in the unincorporated community of [[Paradise, Nevada|Paradise]]. The U.S. Postal Service considers all unincorporated areas in the Las Vegas Valley, including Paradise, to have a Las Vegas address.}}
| rowspan="2" | 1957
| rowspan="2" | Public
| rowspan="2" | 29,069
| rowspan="2" | [[UNLV Rebels men's soccer|Rebels]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| rowspan="2" | 2013–14
| {{yes}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| {{sortname|Men's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| {{yes}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| '''[[New Mexico State University]]'''{{efn|group=assoc|name=wswim}}
| [[Las Cruces, New Mexico]]
| 1888
| Public
| {{nts|21694}}
| [[New Mexico State Aggies|Aggies]]
| [[Conference USA]]
| {{sortname|Women's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| 2023–24<ref name=NMSUWSwim>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220610g8vurq |title=WAC Championship Eligibility for All Highlights WAC Board Spring Meeting |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=June 10, 2022 |access-date=June 20, 2022 |quote=... New Mexico State University was approved as an affiliate member in the sport of women's swimming and diving beginning in 2023-24.}}</ref>
| {{yes}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| '''[[Northern Arizona University]]'''{{efn|group=assoc|name=wswim}}
| [[Flagstaff, Arizona]]
| 1899
| Public
| 18,824
| [[Northern Arizona Lumberjacks|Lumberjacks]]
| [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]
| {{sortname|Women's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| 2004–05
! {{no}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| {{sort|Northern Colorado|'''[[University of Northern Colorado]]'''}}{{efn|group=assoc|Northern Colorado joined the WAC for baseball for the 2014 spring season (2013–14 school year).<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitch Wigness|publisher=UN Media|url=http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=206349961|title=Baseball to join WAC as affiliate member|date=February 11, 2013|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051604/http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=206349961|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> The baseball team left for the [[Summit League]] after the 2021 spring season (2020–21 school year);<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://thesummitleague.org/news/2020/7/14/northern-colorado-to-join-the-summit-league-as-a-baseball-affiliate.aspx |title=Northern Colorado to join The Summit League as a baseball affiliate |publisher=The Summit League |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=July 17, 2020}}</ref> but the school remains a WAC affiliate in women's swimming & diving through the 2024–25 season, after which that team will join the MPSF.}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=wswim}}
| [[Greeley, Colorado]]
| 1889
| Public
| 10,097
| [[Northern Colorado Bears|Bears]]
| [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]
| {{sortname|Women's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| 2012–13
! {{no}}
|-
| '''[[San Diego State University]]'''
| [[San Diego|San Diego, California]]
| 1897
| Public
| 28,789
| [[San Diego State Aztecs|Aztecs]]
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>([[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] in 2026)
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| 2024–25
| {{yes}}
|-
| '''[[San Jose State University]]'''{{efn|group=assoc|name=soccer}}
| [[San Jose, California]]
| 1857
| Public
| 30,448
| [[San Jose State Spartans men's soccer|Spartans]]
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| 2013–14
| {{yes}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''[[University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]]'''<br/>(UTRGV){{efn|group=assoc|name=wswim}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Edinburg, Texas]]
| rowspan="2" | 2013{{efn|group=full|While UTRGV was formally founded in 2013, with instruction starting in 2015, the athletic program traces its history through the [[University of Texas–Pan American]] (UTPA), which joined the WAC in 2013 and was one of the two institutions merged into UTRGV. The UTRGV athletic program inherited UTPA's Division I and WAC memberships.}}
| rowspan="2" | Public<br/>([[University of Texas System|UTS]])
| rowspan="2" | 32,419<ref name="UTRGV Student Media">{{cite web |title=UTRGV preliminary enrollment steady |url=https://www.utrgvrider.com/utrgv-preliminary-enrollment-steady/ |publisher=UTRGV Student Media |access-date=September 27, 2021 |date=August 23, 2021}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" | [[UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros|Vaqueros]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Southland Conference|Southland]]
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| rowspan="2" | 2013–14
| {{yes}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| {{sortname|Women's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| {{yes}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| {{sort|Wyoming|'''[[University of Wyoming]]'''}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=swim}}{{efn|group=assoc|name=mswim}}
| [[Laramie, Wyoming]]
| 1886
| Public
| 12,496
| [[Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls|Cowboys]]
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
| {{sortname|Men's|swimming|nolink=y}}
| 2013–14
| {{yes}}
|}

;Notes
{{notelist|group=assoc}}

===Future affiliate members===
After Grand Canyon departs for the Mountain West in 2026, their men's soccer team will remain as an affiliate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grand Canyon Antelopes Athletics |title=GCU to play in WAC as men’s soccer affiliate |url=https://gculopes.com/news/2024/12/6/mens-soccer-gcu-to-join-wac-as-mens-soccer-affiliate.aspx |website=Grand Canyon Antelopes Athletics |publisher=Grand Canyon Antelopes Athletics |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Institution
!Location
!Founded
!Type
!Enrollment
!Nickname
!Primary<br>conference
!WAC<br>sport(s)
!Joined
!Former<br>full<br>member
|-
| '''[[Grand Canyon University]]'''
| [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| 1949
| Private For-Profit<br/>([[Nondenominational Christianity|Non-denominational]])
| {{nts|103427}}
| [[Grand Canyon Antelopes|Antelopes]]
| [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]]<br><small>([[Mountain West Conference|MW]] in 2026)</small>
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| 2026
| {{yes}}
|}

===Former full members===
The WAC has 34 former full members:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Institution !! Nickname !! Location !! Founded !! Type !! Enrollment !! Joined !! Left !! Current<br>primary<br>conference
|-
| {{sort|Air Force|'''[[United States Air Force Academy]]'''}}<br/>(Air Force)
| [[Air Force Falcons|Falcons]]
| [[Air Force Academy, Colorado|USAF Academy, Colorado]]{{efn|group=former|As noted previously, the Academy is outside of the Colorado Springs city limits, and is its own entity for both census and postal purposes.}}
| 1954
| Federal
| 4,413
| 1980
| 1999
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
|-
| {{sort|Arizona|'''[[University of Arizona]]'''}}
| [[Arizona Wildcats|Wildcats]]
| [[Tucson, Arizona]]
| 1885
| Public
| 39,236
| 1962
| 1978
| [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]
|-
| '''[[Arizona State University]]'''
| [[Arizona State Sun Devils|Sun Devils]]
| [[Tempe, Arizona]]
| 1885
| Public
| 59,794
| 1962
| 1978
| [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]
|-
| '''[[Boise State University]]'''
| [[Boise State Broncos|Broncos]]
| [[Boise, Idaho]]
| 1932
| Public
| 22,678
| 2001
| 2011
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>([[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] in 2026)
|-
| '''[[Brigham Young University]]'''<br/>(BYU)
| [[BYU Cougars|Cougars]]
| [[Provo, Utah]]
| 1875
| Private
| 34,130
| 1962
| 1999
| [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]
|-
| '''[[California State University, Bakersfield]]'''
| [[Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners|Roadrunners]]
| [[Bakersfield, California]]
| 1965
| Public
| 10,500
| 2013
| 2020
| [[Big West Conference|Big West]]
|-
| {{sort|Fresno State|'''[[California State University, Fresno]]'''}}<br/>(Fresno State)
| [[Fresno State Bulldogs|Bulldogs]]
| [[Fresno, California]]
| 1911
| Public
| 22,565
| 1992
| 2012
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>([[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] in 2026)
|-
| '''[[Chicago State University]]'''
| [[Chicago State Cougars|Cougars]]
| [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]
| 1867
| Public<br/>([[Thurgood Marshall College Fund|TMCF]])
| {{nts|2620}}<ref>{{cite web |title=CSU Graduate Enrollment Increases 5% |url=https://www.csu.edu/news/Graduate_Enrollment_Increase.htm |publisher=Chicago State University |access-date=September 27, 2021 |date=September 11, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927205906/https://www.csu.edu/news/Graduate_Enrollment_Increase.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 2013
| 2022
| [[Northeast Conference|NEC]]
|-
| '''[[Colorado State University]]'''
| [[Colorado State Rams|Rams]]
| [[Fort Collins, Colorado]]
| 1870
| Public
| 28,417
| 1968{{efn|group=former|The Colorado State men's basketball team joined the WAC a year after it became a full member for other sports (1969–70).}} <!-- accepted in Sept 1967, joined July 1968 -->
| 1999
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>([[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] in 2026)
|-
| {{sort|Denver|'''[[University of Denver]]'''}}
| [[Denver Pioneers|Pioneers]]
| [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]]
| 1864
| Private
| 11,476
| 2012
| 2013
| [[Summit League|Summit]]
|-
| {{sort|Hawaiʻi|'''[[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa]]'''}}
| [[Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine|Rainbow Warriors &<br/> Rainbow Wahine]]
| [[Honolulu|Honolulu, Hawaii]]
| 1907
| Public
| 20,435
| 1979
| 2012
| [[Big West Conference|Big West]]<br/>[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>(football only;<br/>full member in 2026)
|-
| {{sort|Idaho|'''[[University of Idaho]]'''}}
| [[Idaho Vandals|Vandals]]
| [[Moscow, Idaho]]
| 1889
| Public
| 12,312
| 2005
| 2014
| [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]
|- 
| {{sort|Kansas City|'''[[University of Missouri–Kansas City]]'''}}<br/>(Kansas City)
| [[Kansas City Roos|Roos]]
| [[Kansas City, Missouri]]
| 1933
| Public
| 16,944
| 2013
| 2020
| [[Summit League|Summit]]
|-
| '''[[Lamar University]]'''
| [[Lamar Cardinals and Lady Cardinals|Cardinals/ Lady Cardinals]]
| [[Beaumont, Texas]]
| 1923
| Public
| {{nts|17898}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Student Demographics |url=https://www.lamar.edu/about-lu/dashboards/interactive-enrollment-dashboard.html |publisher=Lamar University |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref>
| 2021
| 2022
| [[Southland Conference|SLC]]
|-
| '''[[Louisiana Tech University]]'''
| [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters|Bulldogs]] (men's)<br/>[[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters|Lady Techsters]] (women's)
| [[Ruston, Louisiana]]
| 1894
| Public
| 11,581
| 2001
| 2013
| [[Conference USA|CUSA]]
|-
| {{sort|UNLV|'''[[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]]'''}}<br/>(UNLV)
| [[UNLV Rebels|Rebels]]
| [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada]]{{efn|group=former|As noted previously, UNLV is outside of the Las Vegas city limits, but has a Las Vegas mailing address.}}
| 1957
| Public
| 28,203
| 1996
| 1999
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
|-
| {{sort|Nevada|'''[[University of Nevada, Reno]]'''}}
| [[Nevada Wolf Pack|Wolf Pack]]
| [[Reno, Nevada]]
| 1874
| Public
| 18,227
| 2000
| 2012
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
|-
| {{sort|New Mexico|'''[[University of New Mexico]]'''}}
| [[New Mexico Lobos|Lobos]]
| [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
| 1889
| Public
| 35,211
| 1962
| 1999
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
|-
| '''[[New Mexico State University]]'''
| [[New Mexico State Aggies|Aggies]]
| [[Las Cruces, New Mexico]]
| 1888
| Public
| 21,694
| 2005
| 2023
| [[Conference USA|CUSA]]
|-
| '''[[Rice University]]'''
| [[Rice Owls|Owls]]
| [[Houston|Houston, Texas]]
| 1912
| Private
| 6,082
| 1996
| 2005
| [[American Athletic Conference|The American]]
|-
| '''[[San Diego State University]]'''
| [[San Diego State Aztecs|Aztecs]]
| [[San Diego|San Diego, California]]
| 1897
| Public
| 28,789
| 1978
| 1999
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>([[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] in 2026)
|-
| '''[[Sam Houston State University]]'''
| [[Sam Houston Bearkats|Bearkats]]
| [[Huntsville, Texas]]
| 1879
| Public
| 21,679
| 2021
| 2023
| [[Conference USA|CUSA]]
|-
| '''[[San Jose State University]]'''
| [[San Jose State Spartans|Spartans]]
| [[San Jose, California]]
| 1857
| Public
| 30,448
| 1996
| 2013
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
|-
| '''[[Southern Methodist University]]'''<br/>(SMU)
| [[SMU Mustangs|Mustangs]]
| [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]]{{efn|group=former|Virtually all of the SMU campus, including all athletic facilities, is in [[University Park, Texas|University Park]], a city contained within the Dallas city limits. The U.S. Postal Service considers all locations in University Park to have a Dallas address.}}
| 1911
| Private
| 12,000
| 1996
| 2005
| [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]
|-
| '''[[Stephen F. Austin State University]]'''
| [[Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks|Lumberjacks & Ladyjacks]]
| [[Nacogdoches, Texas]]
| 1923
| Public<br/>([[University of Texas System|UTS]])
| {{nts|11946}}<ref>{{cite web |title=SFA reports fall enrollment numbers |url=https://www.sfasu.edu/about-sfa/newsroom/2021/sfa-reports-fall-enrollment-numbers |publisher=Stephen F. Austin State University |access-date=September 27, 2021 |date=September 10, 2021}}</ref>
| 2021
| 2024
| [[Southland Conference|SLC]]
|-
| '''[[Texas Christian University]]'''<br/>(TCU)
| [[TCU Horned Frogs|Horned Frogs]]
| [[Fort Worth, Texas]]
| 1873
| Private
| 9,725
| 1996
| 2001
| [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]
|-
| {{sort|UTEP|'''[[University of Texas at El Paso]]'''}}<br/>(UTEP)
| [[UTEP Miners|Miners]]
| [[El Paso, Texas]]
| 1914
| Public
| 21,011
| 1968{{efn|group=former|The UTEP men's basketball team joined the WAC a year after it became a full member for other sports (1969–70).}}<!-- accepted in Sept 1967, joined July 1968 -->
| 2005
| [[Conference USA|CUSA]]<br/>([[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]] in 2026)
|-
| {{sort|UT Rio Grande Valley|'''[[University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]]'''}}<br/>(UTRGV)
| [[UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros|Vaqueros]]
| [[Edinburg, Texas]]
| 2013{{efn|group=full|While UTRGV was formally founded in 2013, with instruction starting in 2015, the athletic program traces its history through the [[University of Texas–Pan American]] (UTPA), which joined the WAC in 2013 and was one of the two institutions merged into UTRGV. The UTRGV athletic program inherited UTPA's Division I and WAC memberships.}}
| Public<br/>([[University of Texas System|UTS]])
| {{nts|32419}}<ref name="UTRGV Student Media"/>
| 2013
| 2024
| [[Southland Conference|SLC]]
|-
| {{sort|UTSA|'''[[University of Texas at San Antonio]]'''}}<br/>(UTSA)
| [[UTSA Roadrunners|Roadrunners]]
| [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]]
| 1969
| Public
| 30,474
| 2012
| 2013
| [[American Athletic Conference|The American]]
|-
| '''[[Texas State University]]'''
| [[Texas State Bobcats|Bobcats]]
| [[San Marcos, Texas]]
| 1899
| Public
| 34,229
| 2012
| 2013
| [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]]
|-
| {{sort|Tulsa|'''[[University of Tulsa]]'''}}
| [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane|Golden Hurricane]]
| [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]
| 1894
| Private
| 4,352
| 1996
| 2005
| [[American Athletic Conference|The American]] 
|-
| {{sort|Utah|'''[[University of Utah]]'''}}
| [[Utah Utes|Utes]]
| [[Salt Lake City|Salt Lake City, Utah]]
| 1850
| Public
| 32,388
| 1962
| 1999
| [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]
|-
| '''[[Utah State University]]'''
| [[Utah State Aggies|Aggies]]
| [[Logan, Utah]]
| 1888
| Public
| 28,796
| 2005
| 2013
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>([[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] in 2026)
|-
| {{sort|Wyoming|'''[[University of Wyoming]]'''}}
| [[Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls|Cowboys & Cowgirls]]
| [[Laramie, Wyoming]]
| 1866
| Public
| 12,496
| 1962
| 1999
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=former}}

===Former affiliate members===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; width:100%"
|-
!Institution
!Location
!Founded
!Type
!Enrollment
!Nickname
!Primary<br>conference
!WAC<br>sport(s)
!Joined
!Left
|- 
| '''[[Boise State University]]'''
| [[Boise, Idaho]]
| 1932
| Public
| 22,678
| [[Boise State Broncos|Broncos]]
| [[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]<br/>([[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] in 2026)
| gymnastics
| 1990–91,<br/>2012–13
| 1992–93,<br/>2012–13
|- 
| '''[[California Polytechnic State University]]'''<br/>(Cal Poly)
| [[San Luis Obispo, California]]
| 1901
| Public
| 20,186
| [[Cal Poly Mustangs|Mustangs]]
| [[Big West Conference|Big West]]
| baseball
| 1994–95
| 1995–96
|- 
| '''[[California State University, Bakersfield]]'''<br/>(Cal State Bakersfield)
| [[Bakersfield, California]]
| 1965
| Public
| 8,720
| [[Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners|Roadrunners]]
| [[Big West Conference|Big West]]{{efn|group=faff|Cal State–Bakersfield was a full WAC member from 2013–14 to 2019–20.}}
| baseball,<br/>women's swimming
| 2012–13<sup>bs.</sup><br/>2012–13<sup>w.sm.</sup>
| 2012–13<sup>bs.</sup><br/>2012–13<sup>w.sm.</sup>
|- 
| '''[[California State University, Fullerton]]'''<br/>(Cal State Fullerton)
| [[Fullerton, California]]
| 1959
| Public
| 38,128
| [[Cal State Fullerton Titans|Titans]]
| [[Big West Conference|Big West]]{{efn|group=faff|Cal State–Fullerton no longer sponsors women's gymnastics.}}
| gymnastics
| 2005–06
| 2010–11
|- 
| '''[[California State University, Northridge]]'''<br/>(Cal State Northridge)
| [[Northridge, Los Angeles|Northridge, California]]
| 1958
| Public
| 38,310
| [[Cal State Northridge Matadors|Matadors]]
| [[Big West Conference|Big West]]
| baseball
| 1992–93
| 1995–96
|- 
| {{sort|Sacramento State|'''[[California State University, Sacramento]]'''}}<br/>(Sacramento State)
| [[Sacramento, California]]
| 1947
| Public
| 27,972
| [[Sacramento State Hornets|Hornets]]
| [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]{{efn|group=faff|The Big Sky Conference does not sponsor women's gymnastics. Sacramento State houses that sport in the [[Mountain Pacific Sports Federation]].}}
|gymnastics
| 2005–06
| 2012–13
|- 
| '''[[Dallas Baptist University]]'''
| [[Dallas, Texas]]
| 1898
| Private
| 5,422
| [[Dallas Baptist Patriots|Patriots]]
| [[Lone Star Conference|Lone Star]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2|Currently an [[NCAA Division II]] athletic conference.}}{{efn|group=faff|[[Dallas Baptist Patriots baseball|Dallas Baptist baseball]] competes as a single-sport member of [[Conference USA]].}}
| baseball
| 2012–13
| 2012–13
|- 
| {{sort|Denver|'''[[University of Denver]]'''}}
| [[Denver, Colorado]]
| 1864
| Private
| 11,476
| [[Denver Pioneers|Pioneers]]
| [[Summit League|Summit]]{{efn|group=faff|The Summit League does not sponsor women's gymnastics. Denver houses that sport in the [[Big 12 Conference]].}}{{efn|group=faff|Denver was a full WAC member for the 2012–13 school year.}}
| gymnastics
| 2011–12
| 2011–12
|- 
| '''[[Drury University]]'''
| [[Springfield, Missouri]]
| 1873
| Private
| 5,474
| [[Drury Panthers|Panthers]]
| [[Great Lakes Valley Conference|Great Lakes Valley]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}}
| men's soccer
| 1999–2000
| 1999–2000
|- 
| '''[[Grand Canyon University]]'''
| [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| 1949
| Private,<br/>For-profit
| 17,650
| [[Grand Canyon Antelopes|Antelopes]]
| WAC{{efn|group=faff|Grand Canyon has been a full WAC member since the 2013–14 school year, but will leave the conference for the [[Mountain West Conference]] no later than 2026.}}
| baseball
| 1994–95
| 1997–98
|- 
| {{sort|Hawaii Hilo|'''[[University of Hawaii at Hilo]]'''}}<br/>(Hawaii–Hilo)
| [[Hilo, Hawaii]]
| 1901
| Public
| 20,186
| [[Hawaii–Hilo Vulcans|Vulcans]]
| [[Pacific West Conference|Pacific West]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}}
| baseball
| 1999–2000
| 2000–01
|-
| '''[[Houston Christian University]]'''{{efn|group=full|As of September 2022, Houston Baptist University's name transitioned to "Houston Christian University" and will play under that name, including the shorthand "Houston Christian" effectively immediately.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hbu.edu/news-and-events/2022/09/21/hbu-changes-name-to-houston-christian-university/ | title=Houston Baptist University Changes Name to Houston Christian University &#124; Houston Baptist University | date=September 21, 2022 }}</ref>}}
| [[Houston, Texas]]
| 1960
| Private
| 2,567
| [[Houston Christian Huskies|Huskies]]
| [[Southland Conference|Southland]]
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| 2013–14
| 2023-24
|-
| {{sort|Incarnate Word|'''[[University of the Incarnate Word]]'''}}
| [[San Antonio, Texas]]
| 1881
| Private
| 8,455
| [[Incarnate Word Cardinals|Cardinals]]
| [[Southland Conference|Southland]]
| {{sortname|Men's|soccer|nolink=y}}
| 2014–15
| 2022-23
|-
| {{sort|North Dakota|'''[[University of North Dakota]]'''}}
| [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]]
| 1883
| Public
| 15,250
| [[North Dakota Fighting Hawks|Fighting Hawks]]
| [[Summit League|Summit]]{{efn|group=faff|North Dakota no longer sponsors any of the sports it housed in the WAC.}}
| baseball,<br/>men's swimming,<br/>women's swimming
| 2013–14<sup>bs.</sup><br/>2013–14<sup>m.sm.</sup><br/>2011–12<sup>w.sm.</sup>
| 2015–16<sup>bs.</sup><br/>2016–17<sup>m.sm.</sup><br/>2016–17<sup>w.sm.</sup>
|-
| {{sort|Northern Colorado|'''[[University of Northern Colorado]]'''}}{{efn|group=faff|Northern Colorado remains in the WAC as an affiliate in women's swimming & diving.}}
| [[Greeley, Colorado]]
| 1889
| Public
| 10,097
| [[Northern Colorado Bears baseball|Bears]]
| [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]{{efn|group=faff|Northern Colorado baseball joined the [[Summit League]] after the 2021 spring season (2020–21 school year).}}
| baseball
| 2013–14
| 2020–21
|- 
| {{sort|San Diego|'''[[University of San Diego]]'''}}
| [[San Diego, California]]
| 1949
| Private
| 8,105
| [[San Diego Toreros|Toreros]]
| [[West Coast Conference|West Coast]]{{efn|group=faff|The WCC does not sponsor women's swimming and diving. San Diego houses that sport in the [[Mountain Pacific Sports Federation]].}}
| women's swimming
| 2004–05
| 2009–10
|- 
| '''[[Southern Utah University]]'''
| [[Cedar City, Utah]]
| 1897
| Public
| 8,297
| [[Southern Utah Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds]]
| WAC{{efn|group=faff|Southern Utah has been a full WAC member since the 2022–23 school year.}}{{efn|group=full|SUU women's gymnastics currently competes as an independent following the demise of the [[Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference]] at the end of the 2022–23 season.}}
| gymnastics
| 1990–91,<br/>2005–06
| 1992–93,<br/>2012–13
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=faff}}

===Membership timeline===
<timeline>

DateFormat  = yyyy

ImageSize   = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

Period      = from:1962 till:2032

TimeAxis    = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea    = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph,  use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#

Colors =  id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)

          id:line     value:black

          id:bg       value:white
          id:Full    value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
          id:FullxF  value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
          id:AssocF  value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445)    # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
          id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.691,0.824) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote)
          id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference
          id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the two  
PlotData=

   width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

   bar:1  color:Full from:1962 till:1978 text:[[University of Arizona|Arizona]] (1962–1978)
   bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2011 text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-10]]
   bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2024 text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]
   bar:1  color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]

   bar:2 color:Full from:1962 till:1978 text:[[Arizona State University|Arizona State]] (1962–1978)
   bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2011 text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-10]]
   bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2024 text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]
   bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]

   bar:3 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:[[BYU]] (1962–1999)
   bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2011 text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:2011 till:2023 text:[[West Coast Conference|WCC]]
   bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]

   bar:4 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:[[University of Utah|Utah]]  (1962–1999)
   bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2011 text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:2011 till:2024 text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]
   bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]

   bar:5 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:[[University of Wyoming|Wyoming]] (1962–1999)
   bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:end text:[[Mountain West]]

   bar:6 color:Full from:1962 till:1999 text:[[University of New Mexico|New Mexico]] (1962–1999)
   bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:end text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:7 color:Full from:1968 till:1999 text:[[Colorado State University|Colorado State]] (1968–1999)
   bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2026 text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]

   bar:8 color:Full from:1968 till:2005 text:[[UTEP]] (1968–2005)
   bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2026 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:9  color:Full    from:1978 till:1999 text:[[San Diego State University|San Diego State]] (1978–1999)
   bar:9  color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2026  text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:9 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]

   bar:10 color:Full    from:1979 till:2012 text:[[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa|Hawaiʻi]] (1979–2012)
   bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2026  text:[[Big West Conference|Big West]]
   bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end  text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:11 color:Full    from:1980 till:1999 text:[[United States Air Force Academy|Air Force]] (1980–1999)
   bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:end text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:12 shift:(-50) color:AssocOS from:1990 till:1993 text:(Assoc 1990–1993)
   bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:1993 till:2001 text:[[Big West Conference|Big West]]
   bar:12 color:Full from:2001 till:2011 text:[[Boise State]] (2001–2011)
   bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2026  text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]

   bar:13 shift:(-50) color:AssocOS from:1990 till:1993 text:(Assoc 1990–1993)
   bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1993 till:2005 text:[[NCAA Division I FCS independent schools|Ind]] (1996–2003) / [[Great West Conference|Great West]]
   bar:13 color:AssocOS from:2005 till:2013 text:(Assoc 2005–2013)
   bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2022 text:[[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]
   bar:13 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 text:[[Southern Utah University|Southern Utah]] (2022–present)
   bar:13 color:FullXF from:2023 till:end

   bar:14 color:Full    from:1992 till:2012 text:[[Fresno State]] (1992–2012)
   bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2026  text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]

   bar:18 color:AssocOS from:1995 till:1998 text:(Assoc 1995–1998)
   bar:18 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2026 text:[[Grand Canyon University|Grand Canyon]] (2013–2026)
   bar:18 color:AssocOS from:2026 till:end text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:19 color:Full from:1996 till:1999 text:[[UNLV]] (1996–1999)
   bar:19 shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:end text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:20 color:Full from:1996 till:2001 text:[[Texas Christian University|TCU]] (1996–2001)
   bar:20 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:2005 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:20 color:OtherC2 from:2005 till:2012 text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:[[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]

   bar:21 color:Full from:1996 till:2005 text:[[Rice University|Rice]] (1996–2005)
   bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2023 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]

   bar:22 color:Full from:1996 till:2005 text:[[Southern Methodist University|SMU]] (1996–2005)
   bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:22 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2024 text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]
   bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]

   bar:23 color:Full from:1996 till:2005 text:[[University of Tulsa|Tulsa]] (1996–2005)
   bar:23 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2014 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:23 color:OtherC2 from:2014 till:end text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]

   bar:24 color:Full from:1996 till:2013 text:[[San Jose State]] (1996–2013)
   bar:24 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:27 color:Full from:2000 till:2012 text:[[University of Nevada, Reno|Nevada]] (2000–2012)
   bar:27 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]

   bar:28 color:Full from:2001 till:end text:[[Louisiana Tech University|Louisiana Tech]] (2001–2013)
   bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]

   bar:31 color:Full from:2005 till:end text:[[Utah State University|Utah State]] (2005–2013)
   bar:31 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2026 text:[[Mountain West Conference|Mountain West]]
   bar:31 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]

   bar:32 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:[[University of Idaho|Idaho]] (2005–2014)
   bar:32 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2014 text: 
   bar:32 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:[[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]

   bar:33 color:Full from:2005 till:2013 text:[[New Mexico State University|New Mexico State]] (2005–2023)
   bar:33 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2023
   bar:33 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]

   bar:36 color:AssocOS from:2011 till:2012
   bar:36 shift:(-80) color:FullxF from:2012 till:2013 text:[[University of Denver|Denver]] (2012–2013)
   bar:36 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:[[Summit League|Summit]]

   bar:37 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2012 till:end text:[[University of Texas at San Antonio|UTSA]] (2012–2013)
   bar:37 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2023 text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]
   bar:37 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:[[American Athletic Conference|American]]

   bar:38 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2012 till:end text:[[Texas State University|Texas State]] (2012–2013)
   bar:38 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:[[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]]

   bar:39 shift:(-120) color:FullxF from:2012 till:2013 text:[[UT Arlington]] (2012–2013)
   bar:39 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2022 text:[[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]]
   bar:39 color:FullXF from:2022 till:end text:(2022–present)

   bar:40 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2025 text:[[Seattle University|Seattle]] (2012–2025)
   bar:40 color:OtherC1 from:2025 till:end text:[[West Coast Conference|WCC]]

   bar:42 color:AssocOS from:2012 till:2013
   bar:42 shift:(-60) color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:[[Cal State Bakersfield]] (2013–2020)
   bar:42 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end  text:[[Big West Conference|Big West]]

   bar:44 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2022 text:[[Chicago State]] (2013–2022)
   bar:44 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:2024 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|Ind.]]
   bar:44 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:[[Northeast Conference|NEC]]

   bar:45 shift:(-115) color:FullxF from:2013 till:2015 text:[[UT–Pan American]] (2013–2015)
   bar:45 color:FullxF from:2015 till:2024 text:[[UTRGV]] (2015–2024)
   bar:45 color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Southland Conference|Southland]]

   bar:46 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:[[UMKC]] (2013–2020)
   bar:46 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end  text:[[Summit League|Summit]]

   bar:47 color:FullxF from:2013 till:end text:[[Utah Valley University|Utah Valley]] (2013–present)

   bar:50 shift:) color:FullxF from:2018 till:2026 text:[[California Baptist University|Cal Baptist]] (2018–2026)
   bar:50 color:OtherC1 from:2026 till:end  text:[[Big West Conference|Big West]]

   bar:51 shift:(-100,-5) color:FullXF from:2020 till:2021 text:[[Dixie State]] (2020–present)
   bar:51 color:Full from:2021 till:2022
   bar:51 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 text:[[Utah Tech]]
   bar:51 color:FullXF from:2023 till:end

   bar:52 shift:(-100,-5) color:FullXF from:2020 till:2021 text:[[Tarleton State University|Tarleton]] (2020–present)
   bar:52 color:Full from:2021 till:2023
   bar:52 color:FullXF from:2023 till:end

   bar:53 shift:(-80) color:Full from:2021 till:2023 text:[[Abilene Christian]] (2021–present)
   bar:53 color:FullXF from:2023 till:end

   bar:54 shift:(-80) color:Full from:2021 till:2022 text:[[Lamar University|Lamar]] (2021–2022)
   bar:54 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:[[Southland Conference|Southland]]

   bar:55 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2021 till:2023 text:[[Sam Houston State University|Sam Houston]] (2021–2023)
   bar:55 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:[[Conference USA|CUSA]]

   bar:56 shift:(-120) color:Full from:2021 till:2023 text:[[Stephen F. Austin State University|Stephen F. Austin]] (2021–2024)
   bar:56 color:FullXF from:2023 till:2024
   bar:56 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:[[Southland Conference|Southland]]

ScaleMajor  = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1962

TextData =
    fontsize:L
    textcolor:black
    pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)
    text:^"WAC Membership History"

#> If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. {{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Full members (non-football)}} {{Font  color||{{RGB|251|128|114}}|Assoc. members (football only)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|128|177|211}}|Assoc. members (Other sports)&nbsp;}}   {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other  Conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other  Conference}} <#  </timeline>

{{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|140|210|198}}|Full members (non-football)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|128|177|211}}|Associate members (non-football)}}

*<small>Prior to the 1996–97 season, both Air Force and Hawaii had most to all of their women's sports competing in other conferences before joining the WAC full-time with their men's sports counterparts. At that time, Air Force was in the [[Colorado Athletic Conference]], and Hawaii was in the [[Big West Conference]]. </small>
*<small>Since the 2021–22 season, the WAC has played football at the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]] level.</small>

===Map of the members===
{{OSM Location map
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| width = 800
| height = 675
| coord = {{coord|37.37|-107.89}} 
| nolabels = 1
| title = Western Athletic Conference member locations
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| mark-coord1 = {{coord|32.4701 | -99.7081}} |mark-size1=10 |label1=Abilene |labela1=Christian |label-pos1 = bottom | mark1 = Blue pog.svg | label-color1 = black
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|33.5125 | -112.1273}} |mark-size2=10 |label2=Grand Canyon |label-pos2 = top | mark2 = Red pog.svg | label-color2 = black
| mark-coord3 = {{coord|47.6094 | -122.3188}} |mark-size3=10 |label3=Seattle |label-pos3 = right | mark3 = Red pog.svg | label-color3 = black
| mark-coord4 = {{coord|37.6754 | -113.0751}} |mark-size4=10 |label4=Southern |labela4=Utah |label-pos4 = top | mark4 = Blue pog.svg | label-color4 = black
| mark-coord5 = {{coord|32.2139 | -98.2154}} |mark-size5=10 |label5=Tarleton |label-pos5 = right | mark5 = Blue pog.svg | label-color5 = black
| mark-coord6 = {{coord|32.7290 | -97.1150}} |mark-size6=10 |label6=UT–Arlington |label-pos6 = top | mark6 = Blue pog.svg | label-color6 = black
| mark-coord7 = {{coord|37.1035 | -113.5659}} |mark-size7=10 |label7=Utah Tech |label-pos7 = bottom | mark7 = Blue pog.svg | label-color7 = black
| mark-coord8 = {{coord|40.2781 | -111.7160}} |mark-size8=10 |label8=Utah Valley |label-pos8 = right | mark8 = Blue pog.svg | label-color8 = black
| mark-coord9 = {{coord|32.2793 | -106.7491}} |mark-size9=10 |label9=New Mexico State |label-pos9 = top | mark9 = Orange pog.svg | label-color9 = black
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| mark-coord15 = {{coord|35.1910 | -111.6570}} |mark-size15=10 |label15=Northern Arizona |label-pos15 = top | mark15 = Orange pog.svg | label-color15 = black
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| mark-coord17 = {{coord|37.3351 | -121.8812}} |mark-size17=10 |label17=San Jose |labela17=State |label-pos17 = right | mark17 = Orange pog.svg | label-color17 = black
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| zoom = 5                <!--(1=whole world, 18=a street)-->
| caption = Locations:<br/>[[Image:Blue pog.svg|10px]] full member<br/>[[Image:Red pog.svg|10px]] departing member<br/>[[Image:Orange pog.svg|10px]] affiliate member
}}

==History==
===Formation===
{{Location map+|USA|width=420|caption=Locations of WAC founding schools|relief=no|places=
{{Location map~|USA|label=Arizona|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Arizona Wildcats|lat=32.23167|long=-110.95194}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Arizona State|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Arizona State Sun Devils|lat=33.4172|long=-111.93651}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=BYU|position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=BYU Cougars|lat=40.25|long=-111.65}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=New Mexico|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=New Mexico Lobos|lat=35.08389|long=-106.61861}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Utah|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Utah Utes|lat=40.765|long=-111.85}}
{{Location map~|USA|label=Wyoming|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Wyoming Cowboys|lat=41.31306|long=-105.58139}}
}}
The WAC formed out of a series of talks between [[Brigham Young University]] athletic director [[Eddie Kimball]] and other university administrators from 1958 to 1961 to form a new athletic conference that would better fit the needs and situations of certain universities which were at the time members of the [[Border Conference|Border]], [[Skyline Conference (1938–1962)|Skyline]], and [[Pacific Coast Conference|Pacific Coast]] Conferences. Potential member universities who were represented at the meetings included [[BYU]], [[Washington State University|Washington State]], [[University of Oregon|Oregon]], [[Oregon State University|Oregon State]], [[University of Utah|Utah]], [[University of New Mexico|New Mexico]], [[University of Arizona|Arizona]], [[Arizona State University|Arizona State]], and [[University of Wyoming|Wyoming]]. While the three Washington and Oregon schools elected to stay in a revamped [[Pac-8 Conference]] that replaced the scandal-plagued PCC, the remaining six schools formed the WAC. The Border and Skyline conferences, having each lost three of their stronger members, dissolved at the end of the 1961–62 season. The charter members of the WAC were [[University of Arizona|Arizona]], [[Arizona State University|Arizona State]], [[BYU]], [[University of New Mexico|New Mexico]], [[University of Utah|Utah]], and [[University of Wyoming|Wyoming]]. [[New Mexico State University|New Mexico State]] and [[Utah State University|Utah State]] applied for charter membership and were turned down; they would eventually become WAC members 43 years later.

===Success and first expansion===
The conference proved to be an almost perfect fit for the six schools from both a competitive and financial standpoint. Arizona and Arizona State, in particular, experienced success in baseball with [[Arizona Wildcats baseball|Arizona]] garnering the 1963 [[College World Series]] (CWS) runner-up trophy and [[Arizona State Sun Devils baseball|ASU]] winning the CWS in 1965, 1967, and 1969. [[Colorado State University|Colorado State]] and [[Texas–El Paso]] (UTEP), at that time just renamed from Texas Western College, were accepted in September 1967 (joined in July 1968) to bring membership up {{nowrap|to eight.<ref name=desaddtw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nKsvAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080%2C1580995 |work=Deseret News |location=(Salt Lake City, Utah) |title=WAC does it! Adds two |date=September 7, 1967 |page=D1}}</ref><ref name=watsch>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=atcpAAAAIBAJ&pg=1319%2C1655159 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=WAC adds two schools |date=September 8, 1967 |page=1, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}

With massive growth in the state of Arizona, the balance of WAC play in the 1970s became increasingly skewed in favor of the Arizona schools, who won or tied for all but two WAC football titles from 1969 onward. In the summer of 1978, the two schools left the WAC for the Pac-8, which became the Pac-10, and were replaced in the WAC by [[San Diego State Aztecs|San Diego State]] and, one year later, [[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa|Hawaii]]. The WAC further expanded by adding [[Air Force Falcons|Air Force]] in the summer of 1980. A college football national championship won by [[1984 BYU Cougars football team|Brigham Young in 1984]] added to the WAC's reputation. This nine-team line-up of the WAC defined the conference for nearly 15 years.

===Second wave of expansion===
[[Fresno State Bulldogs|Fresno State]] expanded its athletic program in the early 1990s and was granted membership in 1992 as the nationwide trend against major college programs independent of conferences accelerated. The WAC merged with the High Country Athletic Conference, a parallel organization to the WAC for women's athletics, in 1990 to unify both men's and women's athletics under one administrative structure.

{{Location map+|USA|width=420|caption=WAC member locations during the four-pod system (1996–1998)|relief=no|places=
   {{Location map~|USA|label=⇙ Hawaii|position=right|mark=Red pog.svg|link=Hawaii Rainbow Warriors|lat=22|long=-120}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Fresno State|position=right|mark=Red pog.svg|link=Fresno State Bulldogs|lat=36.81333|long=-119.75}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=San Diego State|position=right|mark=Red pog.svg|link=San Diego State Aztecs|lat=32.77528|long=-117.07222}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label={{nowrap|San Jose State}}|position=right|mark=Red pog.svg|link=San Jose State Spartans|lat=37.33528|long=-121.88139}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=UNLV|position=right|mark=Green pog.svg|link=UNLV Rebels|lat=36.10779|long=-115.14376}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Air Force|position=right|mark=Green pog.svg|link=Air Force Falcons|lat=38.99028|long=-104.85833}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label={{nowrap|Colorado State}}|position=right|mark=Green pog.svg|link=Colorado State Rams|lat=40.57484|long=-105.08098}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Wyoming|position=top|mark=Green pog.svg|link=Wyoming Cowboys|lat=41.31306|long=-105.58139}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=BYU|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=BYU Cougars|lat=40.25|long=-111.65}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=New Mexico|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=New Mexico Lobos|lat=35.08389|long=-106.61861}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Utah|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Utah Utes|lat=40.765|long=-111.85}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=UTEP|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=UTEP Miners|lat=31.77|long=-106.505}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Tulsa|position=right|mark=Yellow pog.svg|link=Tulsa Golden Hurricane|lat=36.15222|long=-95.94639}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=TCU|position=left|mark=Yellow pog.svg|link=TCU Horned Frogs|lat=32.70961|long=-97.62823}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=SMU|position=right|mark=Yellow pog.svg|link=SMU Mustangs|lat=32.841|long=-96.784}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Rice|position=right|mark=Yellow pog.svg|link=Rice Owls|lat=29.71694|long=-95.40278}}
}}
In 1996, the WAC expanded again, adding six schools to its ranks for a total of sixteen. [[Rice University|Rice]], [[Texas Christian University|TCU]], and [[Southern Methodist University|SMU]] joined the league from the [[Southwest Conference]], which had disbanded. [[Big West Conference]] members [[San Jose State]] and [[UNLV]] were also admitted, as well as [[University of Tulsa|Tulsa]] from the [[Missouri Valley Conference]].<ref name="wac16teams">{{cite news |last=Deinhart |first=Tom |date=September 14, 2011 |title=WAC a cautionary tale for superconferences |url=http://www.realclearsports.com/2011/09/14/wac_a_cautionary_tale_for_superconferences_93568.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103228/http://www.realclearsports.com/2011/09/14/wac_a_cautionary_tale_for_superconferences_93568.html |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref> Also, two WAC members for men's sports at the time, Air Force and Hawai{{okina}}i, brought their women's sports into the WAC. With the expansion, the WAC was divided into two divisions, the Mountain and the Pacific.

To help in organizing schedules and travel for the far-flung league, the members were divided into four quadrants of four teams each, as follows:<ref name=wac16teams/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Quadrant 1
!Quadrant 2
!Quadrant 3
!Quadrant 4
|-
|Hawai{{okina}}i
|UNLV
|BYU
|Tulsa
|-
|Fresno State
|Air Force
|Utah
|TCU
|-
|San Diego State
|Colorado State
|New Mexico
|SMU
|-
|San Jose State
|Wyoming
|UTEP
|Rice
|}

Quadrant one was always part of the Pacific Division, and quadrant four was always part of the Mountain Division. Quadrant two was part of the Pacific Division for 1996 and 1997 before switching to the Mountain Division in 1998, while the reverse was true for quadrant three. The scheduled fourth year of the alignment was abandoned after eight schools left to form the Mountain West Conference.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}}

The division champions in football met from 1996 to 1998 in the [[WAC Championship Game]], held at [[Sam Boyd Stadium]] (also known as the Silver Bowl) in the [[Las Vegas Valley]].

===Turbulence at the turn of the millennium===
Increasingly, most of the older, pre-1996 members—particularly Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming—felt chagrin at this new arrangement. Additional concerns centered around finances, as the expanded league stretched approximately {{convert|3900|mi}} from Hawaii to Oklahoma and covered nine states and four time zones. With such a far-flung league, travel costs became a concern. The presidents of Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming met in 1998 at [[Denver International Airport]] and agreed to split off to form a new league. The breakaway group invited old-line WAC schools New Mexico and San Diego State, and newcomer UNLV to join them in the new [[Mountain West Conference]], which began competition in 1999.<ref name=wac16teams/>

A ''USA Today'' article summed up the reasons behind the split. "With Hawaii and the Texas schools separated by about 3,900 miles and four time zones, travel costs were a tremendous burden for WAC teams. The costs, coupled with lagging revenue and a proposed realignment that would have separated rivals such as Colorado State and Air Force, created unrest among the eight defecting schools."<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.softball/browse_thread/thread/3f7c1ad8fc2a11e0/ede167b9f4f9ab2a?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Western+Athletic+Conference+split#ede167b9f4f9ab2a WAC disbanding? – rec.sport.softball | Google Groups]. Groups.google.com.</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.thehrr.com/Samples/june%2798.pdf |title=Lockout, Boycott, So what... | magazine= The Houston Roundball Review |volume= 4 |issue= 8 |date=June 1998 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214559/http://www.thehrr.com/Samples/june%2798.pdf |archive-date= March 3, 2016 |access-date= September 26, 2011 }}</ref>

BYU and Utah would later leave the MWC for the [[West Coast Conference]] and [[Pac-12 Conference]], respectively; BYU joined the [[Big 12 Conference]] in 2023 while Utah followed in 2024.

===WAC in the 2000s===
{{Location map+|USA|width=420|caption=Locations of WAC full members from 2005 through 2011|relief=no|places=
   {{Location map~|USA|label=⇙ Hawaii|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Hawaii Rainbow Warriors|lat=22|long=-120}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Fresno State|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Fresno State Bulldogs|lat=36.81333|long=-119.75}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label={{nowrap|San Jose State}}|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=San Jose State Spartans|lat=37.33528|long=-121.88139}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Boise State|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Boise State Broncos|lat=43.604|long=-116.204}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Louisiana Tech|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Louisiana Tech Bulldogs|lat=32.52736|long=-92.64701}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Idaho|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Idaho Vandals|lat=46.726|long=-117.011}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=New Mexico State|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=New Mexico State Aggies|lat=32.31444| long=-106.77889}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Utah State|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Utah State Aggies|lat=41.745|long=-111.809}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Nevada|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Nevada Wolf Pack|lat=39.54583|long=-119.81667}}
}}
In 2000, the [[University of Nevada, Reno]] (Nevada) of the Big West joined as part of its plan to upgrade its athletic program.

TCU left for [[Conference USA]] in 2001 (it would later leave C-USA to become the ninth member of the [[Mountain West]] in 2005, and joined the [[Big 12]] in 2012).

The Big West announced that it would drop football after the 2000 season, but four of its football-playing members ([[Boise State]], [[University of Idaho|Idaho]], [[New Mexico State University|New Mexico State]], and [[Utah State University|Utah State]]) were unwilling to drop football. Boise State was invited to join the WAC and promptly departed the Big West, while New Mexico State and Idaho joined the [[Sun Belt Conference]] (NMSU as a full member, Idaho as a "football only" member) and Utah State operated as an independent D-IA program. At the same time, [[Louisiana Tech University|Louisiana Tech]] (LA Tech) ended its independent Div. I-A status and also accepted an invitation to join the WAC with Boise State.

In 2005, [[Conference USA]] sought new members to replenish its ranks after losing members to the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]], which had lost members to the [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]. Four WAC schools, former SWC schools [[Rice University|Rice]] and [[Southern Methodist University|SMU]], as well as [[University of Tulsa|Tulsa]] and [[UTEP]], joined Conference USA. In response, the WAC added Idaho, New Mexico State, and Utah State—all former Big West schools which left the conference in 2000 along with Boise State when that conference dropped football. The three new schools were all [[Land-grant university|land grant universities]], bringing the conference total to five (Nevada and Hawaii).

===Membership changes and the elimination of football===
{{Main|2010–13 Western Athletic Conference realignment}}
{{See also|2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment}}
The decade of the 2010s began with a series of conference realignment moves that would have trickle-down effects throughout Division I football, and profoundly change the membership of the WAC. Boise State decided to move to the Mountain West Conference (MWC) for the 2011–12 season,<ref name="BSU to MWC">{{cite news |date=June 11, 2010 |title=Boise State moves to Mountain West |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=5276064 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132557/http://www.espn.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5276064 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref> and to replace departing BYU, the MWC also recruited WAC members Fresno State and Nevada for 2012–13.<ref name=ESPN>{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5735144|title=Fresno State, Nevada to remain in WAC until 2012|work=ESPN|date=October 28, 2010|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044150/http://www.espn.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5735144|archive-date=September 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Adelson |first=Andrea |date=August 20, 2010 |title=Utah State turned down invite to MWC |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/24908 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129051446/http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/24908/utah-state-turned-down-invite-to-mwc |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref> WAC commissioner Karl Benson courted several schools to replace those leaving, including the [[University of Montana – Missoula|University of Montana]], which declined,<ref>{{cite web |last=Buerkle |first=Derek |date=September 29, 2010 |title=WAC Commissioner recognizes UM would be "perfect fit" |url=http://www.kpax.com/news/wac-commissioner-recognizes-um-would-be-perfect-fit-/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219035357/http://www.kpax.com/news/wac-commissioner-recognizes-um-would-be-perfect-fit-/ |archive-date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=July 5, 2012 |publisher=KPAX Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UM staying in Big Sky Conference|url=http://www.kpax.com/news/um-staying-in-big-sky-conference/|publisher=KPAX Sports|access-date=July 5, 2012|date=November 11, 2010|archive-date=December 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219035354/http://www.kpax.com/news/um-staying-in-big-sky-conference/|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as the [[University of Denver]], [[University of Texas at San Antonio]] (UTSA), and [[Texas State University|Texas State University-San Marcos]], which all accepted effective 2012–13.<ref>{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Andy |author-link=Andy Katz |date=November 10, 2010 |title=Sources: Denver University, Texas-San Antonio and Texas State to join WAC |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=5789078 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051450/http://www.espn.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5789078 |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref>

But the resulting eastward shift of the conference's geographic center led Hawaii to reduce travel expenses by becoming a football-only member of the MWC and joining the California-based [[Big West Conference]] for all other sports.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ernst |first=Cheryl |date=November 19, 2010 |title=UH joins Mountain West, Big West conferences |url=http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2010/11/mountain-west/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407045819/http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2010/11/mountain-west/ |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |publisher=Mālamalama, The Magazine of the University of Hawaiʻi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Andy |author-link=Andy Katz |date=December 30, 2017 |others=The Associated Press |title=Hawaii joins MWC, Big West for 2012 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=5907111 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826041958/http://www.espn.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5907111 |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref> Further invitations were then issued by the WAC to [[Seattle University]]<ref>[http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205159664 WAC Announces Addition of Seattle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010105238/http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205159664 |date=October 10, 2012 }}. WACSports.com (June 14, 2011).</ref> and the [[University of Texas at Arlington]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myarlingtontx.com/2012/07/03/the-mavericks-join-the-wac|title=The Mavericks Join the WAC|website=MyArlingtonTX.com|date=July 3, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709005920/http://myarlingtontx.com/2012/07/03/the-mavericks-join-the-wac/|archive-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> These changes meant that the conference would have 10 members for 2012–13,<ref>[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50655841-77/state-wac-football-teams.html.csp The Salt Lake Tribune] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112184108/http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50655841-77/state-wac-football-teams.html.csp |date=November 12, 2010 }}. Sltrib.com.</ref> seven of which sponsored football, and Benson announced that the WAC planned to add two additional football-playing members to begin competition in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=WAC Standing Strong Amid Changing Landscape|url=http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205322724|publisher=WAC|access-date=October 27, 2011|archive-date=April 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407025341/http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205322724|url-status=dead}}</ref> A further boost came when Boise State decided to join the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] in football, and return to the WAC in most other sports, as of the 2013–14 academic year.<ref name=broncosports1>{{cite news|title=Boise State Announces New Conference Affiliations|url=http://www.broncosports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=9900&ATCLID=205343824|agency=Boise State Sports Information|publisher=Bronco Sports|date=December 7, 2011|archive-date=January 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108233319/http://www.broncosports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=9900&ATCLID=205343824|url-status=dead}}</ref> So by the end of 2011, the WAC seemed to have weathered the latest round of conference changes, and once again reinvented itself for the future.

{{Location map+|USA|width=420|caption=Locations of current <!--& future -->WAC full members: <!-- Blue=current Yellow=future-->|relief=no|places=
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   {{Location map~|USA|label=Seattle|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Seattle Redhawks|lat=47.60972|long=-122.33306}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=UTRGV|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros|lat=26.30417|long=-98.16389}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Utah Valley|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Utah Valley Wolverines|lat=40.29875|long=-111.69649}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=California Baptist|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=California Baptist Lancers|lat=33.93|long=-117.425}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Utah Tech|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Utah Tech Trailblazers|lat=37.095|long=-113.578}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=Tarleton State|position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Tarleton State Texans|lat=32.216|long=-98.216}}
}}

But from this seemingly strong position, early 2012 brought forth a series of moves that shook the conference to its very core, beginning with [[Utah State University|Utah State]] and [[San Jose State]] accepting offers to join the MWC.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=54013176&itype=CMSID|title=Utah State is headed for Mountain West Conference|last=Tony Jones|date=April 29, 2012|work=Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101122553/http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=54013176&itype=CMSID|archive-date=November 1, 2017}}</ref> Four similar announcements followed with [[University of Texas at San Antonio|UTSA]] and [[Louisiana Tech University|Louisiana Tech]] jumping to [[Conference USA]], plus [[Texas State University|Texas State]] and [[UT Arlington]] heading to the [[Sun Belt Conference]], all as of 2013–14.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/18923863|title=Conference USA reloading by adding 6 schools|last=Brett McMurphy|work=CBS Sports|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=May 2, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510084244/http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/18923863|archive-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/texas-state-headed-to-sun-belt-conference-in-july-2013-after-only-1-wac-season/2012/05/02/gIQAnmMqwT_story.html|title=Texas State headed to Sun Belt Conference in July 2013 after only 1 WAC season|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=May 2, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205422758|title=Texas State to Join Sun Belt Conference|publisher=Sun Belt Conference|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=May 5, 2012|archive-date=May 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512045549/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205422758|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="5 to C-USA">{{cite news|url=http://www.utepathletics.com/news/2012/5/4/Conference_USA_Adds_Five_New_Members.aspx|title=Conference USA Adds Five New Members|publisher=UTEP Athletics|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103348/http://www.utepathletics.com/news/2012/5/4/Conference_USA_Adds_Five_New_Members.aspx?path=general|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.themtn.tv/05/04/12/San-Jos-State-Utah-State-To-Join-Mountai/landing201203.html?blockID=702274&feedID=2984|title=San José State, Utah State to Join Mountain West|publisher=Mountain West Conference|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930180917/http://www.themtn.tv/05/04/12/San-Jos-State-Utah-State-To-Join-Mountai/landing201203.html?blockID=702274&feedID=2984|archive-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UT Arlington to join Sun Belt Conference in 2013–14|url=http://www.utamavs.com/genrel/052412aaa.html|publisher=UT-Arlington Athletics|access-date=December 30, 2017|date=May 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103334/http://www.utamavs.com/genrel/052412aaa.html|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> Boise State also canceled plans to rejoin the WAC, instead opting to place its non-football sports in the [[Big West Conference]], before eventually deciding to simply remain in the MWC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broncosports.cstv.com/genrel/070112aaa.html|title=Boise State to Remain as Football Only Member in Big East Conference|publisher=Boise State Sports Information|access-date=December 30, 2017|date=June 30, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051642/http://broncosports.cstv.com/genrel/070112aaa.html|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Boise State To Join Big West Conference|url=http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=16049|publisher=Big West Conference|access-date=December 30, 2017|date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104002021/http://www.bigwest.org/story.asp?STORY_ID=16049|archive-date=November 4, 2012}}</ref> These changes left the WAC's viability as a Division I football conference in grave doubt. The two remaining football-playing members, New Mexico State and Idaho, began making plans to compete in future seasons as [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|FBS Independents]];<ref>{{cite web |last=Adelson |first=Andrea |date=June 25, 2012 |title=Boise State risks missing deadline |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8094351 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051538/http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8094351/boise-state-broncos-deadline-leave-mountain-west-looms |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Irv |date=July 3, 2012 |title=Western Athletic Conference considers becoming a non-football league |url=http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_21002204/western-athletic-conference-considers-becoming-non-football-league |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816232319/http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_21002204/western-athletic-conference-considers-becoming-non-football-league |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |work=[[The Denver Post]]}}</ref> they ultimately spent only the [[2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2013 season]] as independents, rejoining their one-time football home of the Sun Belt as football-only members in [[2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2014]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2013/3/27/GEN_170.aspx|title=Idaho and New Mexico State to Join Sun Belt Conference As Football members in 2014|publisher=Sun Belt Conference|date=March 27, 2013|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103246/http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2013/3/27/GEN_170.aspx?path=general|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>

In order to rebuild, as well as forestall further defections, the conference was forced to add two schools—[[Utah Valley University]] and [[CSU Bakersfield]]—which were invited in October 2012 to join the WAC in 2013–14,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lmtribune.com/blogs/idaho_vandals/article_23565e82-1232-11e2-aab8-0019bb30f31a.html|last=Troy Warzocha|title=WAC adds Utah Valley, Cal State Bakersfield|work=The Lewiston Tribune|date=October 9, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824040035/http://lmtribune.com/blogs/idaho_vandals/article_23565e82-1232-11e2-aab8-0019bb30f31a.html|archive-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> but this did not prevent two more members from leaving. Denver decided to take most of its athletic teams to The [[Summit League]] as of the 2013–14 season,<ref name="Denver to Summit">{{cite press release|url=http://thesummitleague.org/sports/articles/2012-13/releases/denver_112712|title=Denver Becomes The Summit League's Newest Member|publisher=The Summit League|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031184319/http://www.thesummitleague.org/sports/articles/2012-13/releases/denver_112712|archive-date=October 31, 2017}}</ref> shortly after Idaho opted to return all of its non-football sports to the [[Big Sky Conference]] in 2014–15.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kasper |first=John |date=October 19, 2012 |title=Idaho To Return in 2014 |url=https://bigskyconf.com/news/2012/10/19/GEN_1019120821.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514144322/http://bigskyconf.com/news/2012/10/19/GEN_1019120821.aspx |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |publisher=sidearmsports}}</ref> The conference responded over the next two months by adding [[Grand Canyon University]],<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205781174|title=Grand Canyon University to Join WAC|publisher=Western Athletic Conference|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=November 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130002023/http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205781174|archive-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Chicago State University]],<ref>{{cite press release |title=Chicago State headed to WAC |date=December 5, 2012 |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/college-sports/story/_/id/8713935 |last=McMurphy |first=Brett |access-date=October 8, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051624/http://www.espn.com/chicago/college-sports/story/_/id/8713935/chicago-state-cougars-joining-western-athletic-conference |archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> and the [[University of Texas-Pan American]].<ref>{{cite press release |title=UTPA says WAC invited it to join |date=November 29, 2012 |work=ESPN College Sports |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8692626 |last=McMurphy |first=Brett |access-date=October 8, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103242/http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8692626/texas-pan-american-says-wac-invited-join%7Ctitle=UTPA%20says%20WAC%20invited%20it%20to%20join |archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UTPA to go to board Dec. 18 for WAC invite|url=http://www.themonitor.com/sports/utpa_broncs/article_dd461af2-3f4c-11e2-a0d2-0019bb30f31a.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204002807/http://www.themonitor.com/sports/utpa_broncs/article_dd461af2-3f4c-11e2-a0d2-0019bb30f31a.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2013|work=The Monitor|access-date=December 30, 2017|date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> Then, in February 2013, the WAC announced the [[University of Missouri–Kansas City]] would join in the summer of 2013 as well.<ref name="UMKC to WAC">{{cite web|url=http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=206317961&DB_OEM_ID=18300|title=UMKC Heading to the Western Athletic Conference|date=February 7, 2013 |publisher=UMKC Athletics|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051650/http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89995&SPID=10799&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=206317961&DB_OEM_ID=18300|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> These changes would put the conference's membership at eight members by 2014 with only one, New Mexico State, having been in the WAC just three years earlier. Due to losing the majority of its football-playing members, the WAC would stop sponsoring the sport after the 2012–13 season, thereby becoming a non-football conference.<ref name="WAC drops football after 2012 season"/>

In 2013, the [[University of Texas System]] announced that Texas–Pan American would merge with the [[University of Texas at Brownsville]]; the new institution, the [[University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]] (UTRGV), began operation for the 2015–16 school year. UTRGV inherited UTPA's athletic program and WAC membership.

In January 2017, [[California Baptist University]] announced it would transition from [[NCAA Division II]] and join the WAC in 2018.<ref name=CBU>{{cite press release|url=http://wacsports.com/news/2017/1/12/NEWS_0112173725.aspx|title=California Baptist University to Join WAC in 2018-19|publisher=Western Athletic Conference|date=January 13, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051633/http://wacsports.com/news/2017/1/12/NEWS_0112173725.aspx?path=general|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>

In November 2017, [[Cal State Bakersfield]] announced it would accept an invitation to the Big West and join its new conference in 2020.

In January 2019, [[Dixie State University]], now known as Utah Tech University, announced it would move its athletics to Division I and join the WAC in 2020.

In June 2019, the [[University of Missouri–Kansas City]] announced it would leave the WAC to join the Summit League in 2020;<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://thesummitleague.org/general/2018-19/releases/20190620sts1tx |title=Summit League welcomes back UMKC |publisher=The Summit League |date=June 20, 2019 |access-date=October 2, 2019 |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623135234/http://thesummitleague.org/general/2018-19/releases/20190620sts1tx |url-status=dead }}</ref> this announcement came shortly before the rebranding of its athletic program as the Kansas City Roos.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18300&ATCLID=211806301 |title=UMKC Athletics Completes New Brand Identity |publisher=Kansas City Athletics |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref>

In September 2019, [[Tarleton State University]] of Division II announced that it would move to Division I and join the WAC in 2020.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://tarletonsports.com/news/2019/9/30/general-tarleton-receives-ncaa-division-i-invitation.aspx |title=Tarleton receives NCAA Division I invitation |publisher=Tarleton State Texans |date=September 30, 2019 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref>

===2021–2025 membership changes and reinstatement of football===
{{see also|United Athletic Conference}}

{{Location map+|USA|width=420|caption=Locations of WAC full members beginning in 2023 (Blue: Pre-2021, Red: Joined in 2021; Yellow: Joined in 2022) |relief=no|places=
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   {{Location map~|USA|label=Tarleton|position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg|link=Tarleton State Texans|lat=32.216|long=-98.216}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=ACU|position=left|mark=Red pog.svg|link=Abeline Christian Wildcats|lat=32.470|long=-99.708}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=SFA|position=top|mark=Red pog.svg|link=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks|lat=31.6206| long=-94.6451}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label= S. Utah|position=top|mark=Yellow pog.svg|link=Southern Utah Thunderbirds|lat=37.6764| long=-113.0713}}
   {{Location map~|USA|label=UTA|position=top|mark=Yellow pog.svg|link=UT-Arlington Mavericks|lat=33|long=-97.5}}
}}

On January 14, 2021, the Western Athletic Conference announced its intention to reinstate football as a conference-sponsored sport at the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]] level, as well as the addition of five new members to the conference in all sports, including football, at a press conference held at the [[NRG Center]] in Houston, Texas.<ref name="WAC 2022"/> The new members announced included four [[Southland Conference]] members from Texas in [[Abilene Christian University]], [[Lamar University]], [[Sam Houston State University]], and [[Stephen F. Austin State University]], which would soon be dubbed the "Texas Four",<ref name=Dean/> plus [[Southern Utah University]] from the [[Big Sky Conference]]. The conference also announced that it would most likely add another member that fielded a football team at a later date. While the WAC originally announced that all new members would join on July 1, 2022, commissioner Jeff Hurd later said that the arrival of the Texas Four "was expedited" to July 1, 2021.<ref name=Martinez/> The conference officially confirmed this on January 21, 2021, adding that the relaunch of football was moved forward to fall 2021. The conference also confirmed media reports that the Southland had expelled the Texas Four after they announced their departure.<ref name=Blum>{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/2021/01/14/as-wac-conference-announces-addition-of-5-schools-frisco-based-southland-conference-left-in-no-mans-land/ |title=As WAC announces addition of 5 schools, Frisco-based Southland Conference left in no man's land |first=Sam |last=Blum |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20210121f62s76 |title=WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=January 21, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref> Southern Utah entered as scheduled in 2022.<ref name=Martinez/>

During the aforementioned press conference, Hurd also announced that the WAC would split into two divisions for all sports except football and men's and women's basketball. One division will consist of the six Texas schools (the Texas Four plus existing members Tarleton and UTRGV).<ref name="WAC 2022"/>

Also on January 14, 2021, news broke that UTRGV, a non-football playing member of the conference, had committed to create an FCS football program by 2024. In addition, UTRGV will also launch women's swimming and diving for the same year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jeyarajah |first=Shehan |title=UTRGV commits to add FCS football by 2024. |url=https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2021/01/14/utrgv-commits-to-add-fcs-football-by-2024?ref=article_preview_img |website=Dave Campbell's Texas Football |access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://goutrgv.com/news/2022/11/18/football-utrgv-announces-approval-of-football-womens-aquatics-band-spirit-programs.aspx |title=UTRGV announces approval of football, women's aquatics, band, spirit programs |publisher=UTRGV Athletics |date=November 18, 2022 |access-date=December 5, 2022}}</ref> The launch of football was later put off to 2025; it has since been confirmed that UTRGV football will become part of the new ASUN–WAC Football Conference (see below).

The WAC's planned reestablishment of a football conference at the FCS level has also been accompanied by speculation that the conference intends to eventually move its football league back up to FBS in the future, possibly by 2030.<ref>{{cite web |last=Deaver |first=Colin |title=Reports: WAC football to return in 2022, rise to FBS later in decade |url=https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/nmsu/reports-wac-football-to-return-in-2022-rise-to-fbs-later-in-decade/ |website=KTSM.com |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> Later that same month, the WAC moved the start of their FCS sponsorship of football to Fall 2021, with media reports indicating that the [[University of Central Arkansas]], [[Eastern Kentucky University]], and [[Jacksonville State University]] would be added as football affiliates for 2021. The three schools were set to join the [[ASUN Conference]] in July 2021; that league planned to add FCS football, but not until at least 2022.<ref name="WAC Adding Associate members">{{Cite tweet |first=Pete |last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel |user=PeteThamel |number=1354931322570104834 |title=Sources: The WAC is close to finalizing a plan to add 3 schools as associate members for football only in 2021 – Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas and Jacksonville. (They are headed to Atlantic Sun for 2022 and beyond, as that league is slated to begin football.)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |first=Pete |last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel |user=PeteThamel |number=1354932811686408198 |title=And obviously, Jacksonville State. We know Jacksonville doesn't have football anymore.}}</ref> The entry of the three incoming ASUN members into the new football league was officially confirmed at a February 23, 2021, ASUN press conference. These schools joined the Texas Four in a round-robin schedule officially branded interchangeably as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge" and "WAC–ASUN Challenge"; the two conferences proposed an amendment to NCAA bylaws that would allow their partnership (and presumably any others of its kind) to receive an immediate FCS playoff berth. Utah Tech (formerly Dixie State) and Tarleton are included in alliance members' schedules, but are not eligible for the FCS playoffs until completing their Division I transitions in 2024; at least for 2021, games involving those two schools did not count in alliance standings, although both were included in the separate WAC league table.<ref name=ASUNWACFB>{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2020-21/releases/20210223bff9nn |title=ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021 |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=February 23, 2021 |access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref><ref name=ASUNWACupdate>{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2020-21/releases/20210222nmh2xm |title=From the Commissioner's Desk: @ASUN_Football Update |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=February 23, 2021 |access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref>

On the same day as the WAC's initial announcement, [[Chicago State University]] announced it would leave the WAC in June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago State University Announces Plan to Leave Western Athletic Conference in June 2022 |url=https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2021/1/14/general-chicago-state-university-announces-plan-to-leave-western-athletic-conference-in-june-2022.aspx |website=Chicago State University Athletics|date=January 14, 2021 }}</ref> Chicago State was originally added in 2013 along with the [[University of Missouri–Kansas City]], originally with an intention for both institutions to serve as anchors for a midwestern-centered division for the conference.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago State University Announces Plan to Leave Western Athletic Conference in June 2022 |url=https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2021/1/14/general-chicago-state-university-announces-plan-to-leave-western-athletic-conference-in-june-2022.aspx |website=Chicago State University Athletics|date=January 14, 2021 }}</ref> No other universities in the region were added to the WAC, and UMKC (now known for athletic purposes as [[Kansas City Roos|Kansas City]]) departed the conference in 2020 for its former home of the [[Summit League]]. This left Chicago State, which does not sponsor football, as the only WAC member east of Texas. Chicago State's departure rendered [[Seattle University]] as the only WAC member institution not geographically located in the southwestern United States.

On November 5, 2021, it was reported that [[New Mexico State University|New Mexico State]] and [[Sam Houston State University|Sam Houston]] would be leaving the WAC for [[Conference USA]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 5, 2021 |title=Conference USA to add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State beginning in 2023 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32560304 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |website=ESPN}}</ref> The WAC responded by adding [[University of the Incarnate Word|Incarnate Word]] from the [[Southland Conference]] and [[UT Arlington]] from the [[Sun Belt Conference]]; however, UIW later reversed course and decided to stay with the SLC only days before the 2022-23 athletic season officially began.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220120nrv7nj|website=WAC|title=University of Texas at Arlington Accepts Invitation to Join WAC |date=January 21, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.southland.org/news/2022/6/24/general-university-of-the-incarnate-word-staying-in-the-southland-conference.aspx |title=UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD STAYING IN THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE |publisher=Southland Conference |date=June 24, 2022 |access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref> Lamar also announced that it too would return to its former home of the Southland Conference in 2023 roughly three months prior to UIW's announcement, on April 8, 2022; however, three months later, it was announced that the SLC and Lamar would be accelerating the rejoining process so that Lamar could return for the 2022 athletic season instead.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.southland.org/news/2022/4/7/general-lamar-university-is-coming-home-to-the-southland-conference.aspx |title=Lamar University Is Coming Home to the Southland Conference |publisher=Southland Conference |date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Scott |first=Thomas |date=July 11, 2022 |title=Lamar moving to Southland Conference -- immediately |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/lamar/article/Lamar-accelerates-move-to-Southland-Conference-17297267.php |access-date=July 11, 2022 |publisher=Hearst}}</ref>

Jacksonville State and Sam Houston both started FBS transitions in the 2022 season, rendering both ineligible for the FCS playoffs and also dropping both the ASUN and WAC to 5 playoff-eligible football members, one short of the six required for an automatic playoff berth. This led the WAC and ASUN to renew their football partnership for the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2021-22/releases/20220518bz4t65 |title=ASUN and WAC Renew Football Alliance |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=May 18, 2022 |access-date=May 19, 2022}}</ref> Both conferences would hold their own 2022 football seasons; on June 10, 2022, the WAC announced that the two leagues would determine the alliance's automatic qualifier by a process that was not announced at that time.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220610g8vurq |title=WAC Championship Eligibility for All Highlights WAC Board Spring Meeting |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=June 10, 2022 |access-date=June 20, 2022 |quote=It was decided that winning percentage will be used to determine the WAC Champion in the sport of football and the league will work with the ASUN Conference to determine the automatic qualifier for the FCS Playoffs as announced last month.}}</ref>

ESPN reported on December 9, 2022, that the WAC and ASUN had agreed to form a new football-only conference that planned to start play in 2024. The initial membership would consist of Abilene Christian, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton, and Utah Tech from the WAC, plus [[Austin Peay Governors football|Austin Peay]], [[Central Arkansas Bears football|Central Arkansas]], [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky]], and [[North Alabama Lions football|North Alabama]] from the ASUN. UTRGV would become the 10th member upon its planned addition of football in 2025. The new football conference also reportedly plans to move "from what is currently known as FCS football to what is currently known as FBS football at the earliest practicable date."<ref>{{cite news |last=Thamel |first=Pete |author-link=Pete Thamel |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Atlantic Sun, WAC teams pairing up to attempt move to FBS, sources say |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35216756 |access-date=December 9, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> On December 20, the two conferences jointly announced that they would fully merge their football leagues effective in 2023 under the tentative name of "ASUN–WAC Football Conference". The initial membership will be the aforementioned nine programs, with UTRGV becoming the tenth in 2025. The new football league will play a six-game schedule in 2023 before starting full round-robin conference play in 2024. Neither conference's announcement mentioned any plans to move to FBS.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/2023fbconfschedule |title=ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=December 20, 2022 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/20221220kpoghs |title=@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=December 20, 2022 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref> On April 17, 2023, the football league announced its permanent name of [[United Athletic Conference]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://wacsports.com/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/uacfbrelease |title=ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=April 17, 2023 |access-date=April 20, 2023}}</ref>

In March 2024, however, UTRGV announced they also would be departing for the Southland for the 2024-25 academic year.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://goutrgv.com/news/2024/3/25/general-utrgv-athletics-accepts-invitation-to-join-southland-conference-in-2024-25.aspx |title=UTRGV Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25 |publisher=UTRGV Vaqueros Athletics |date=March 25, 2024 |access-date=March 25, 2024}}</ref> Two months later, in May 2024, both Grand Canyon and Seattle announced they had accepted invitations to join the [[West Coast Conference]], beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://wccsports.com/news/2024/5/10/general-west-coast-conference-adds-grand-canyon-university-and-seattle-university-as-members.aspx |title=West Coast Conference Adds Grand Canyon University and Seattle University as Members |publisher=West Coast Conference |date=May 10, 2024 |access-date=May 10, 2024}}</ref> However, in November 2024, Grand Canyon declined the invitation to join the West Coast Conference after receiving an invite to join the Mountain West Conference. GCU will join the Mountain West no later than July 1, 2026.

In February 2025, rumors began circulating about California Baptist and Utah Valley departing the conference for the [[Big West Conference]]. If the schools were to leave for the Big West, it would have pushed the WAC to just 5 members, pushing the conference into uncertainty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Sean |last2=Feb. 24 |first2=KSL com {{!}} Posted- |last3=P.m |first3=2025 at 5:09 |title=Utah Valley could reportedly be set to move conferences as soon as Friday |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/51260845/utah-valley-could-reportedly-be-set-to-move-conferences-as-soon-as-friday |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.ksl.com |language=en}}</ref> However, the schools would have voted on moving on from the WAC on Friday, February 28, however, no word was officially given about the move by either schools on that date. Instead, on March 5, California Baptist would then admit to departing to the Big West, with a 1.2 million dollar exit fee.

==Commissioners==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Years
!Commissioners
|-
|1962–1968
|[[Paul Brechler]]
|-
|1968–1971
|[[Wiles Hallock]]
|-
|1971–1980
|[[Stan Bates]]
|-
|1980–1994
|[[Joseph Kearney]]
|-
|1994–2012
|[[Karl Benson]]
|-
|2012–2021
|Jeff Hurd
|-
|2021–2024
|Brian Thornton
|}

==Sports==
The Western Athletic Conference currently sponsors championship competition in 9 men's and 10 women's NCAA-sanctioned sports. Nine other schools are currently associate members in four sports.

{| class="wikitable" style=
|+ '''Teams in Western Athletic Conference competition'''
!Sport||Men's||Women's
|-
| [[College baseball|Baseball]] || {{center|9}} || {{center|–}}
|-
| [[College basketball|Basketball]] || {{center|9}} || {{center|9}}
|-
| [[Cross country running|Cross country]] || {{center|9}}||{{center|9}}
|-
| [[Golf]] || {{center|11}} || {{center|9}}
|-
| [[College soccer in the United States|Soccer]] || {{center|10}} || {{center|8}}
|-
| [[Softball]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|9}}
|-
| [[Swimming (sport)|Swimming]] & [[Diving (sport)|Diving]] || {{center|6}}||{{center|9}}
|-
| [[College tennis|Tennis]] || {{center|4}} || {{center|6}}
|-
| [[Track and field#Indoor|Track and field (indoor)]] || {{center|7}} || {{center|7}}
|-
| [[Track and field#Outdoor|Track and field (outdoor)]] || {{center|8}} || {{center|9}}
|-
| [[Volleyball]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|9}}
|}

{{notelist|group=t}}

===Men's sponsored sports by school===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%"
|-
!School !! Baseball !! Basketball !! Cross<br/>Country !! Golf !! Soccer !! Swimming<br/>& Diving !! Tennis !! Track & Field<br/>(Indoor) !! Track & Field<br/>(Outdoor) !! Total<br/>WAC Sports
|-
| Abilene Christian || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''7'''
|-
| California Baptist || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || '''7'''
|-
| Grand Canyon || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''9'''
|-
| Seattle || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''9'''
|-
| Southern Utah || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''5'''
|-
| Tarleton || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''5'''
|-
| UT Arlington || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''7'''
|-
| Utah Tech || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || '''5'''
|-
| Utah Valley || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''7'''
|-
! colspan="11" | Associate Members
|-
| Air Force || || || || || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || || || || '''2'''
|-
| Sacramento State || {{yes}} || || || || || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| San Diego State || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| San Jose State || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| UNLV || || || || || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || || || || '''2'''
|-
| UTRGV || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| Wyoming || || || || || || {{yes}}|| || || || '''1'''
|-
! Totals || 8+1 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 5+5 || 3+3 || 4 || 7 || 8 || '''61+9'''
|}

{{notelist|group=m}}

;Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Western Athletic Conference which are played by WAC schools
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! School !! Football !! Volleyball !! Water Polo !! Wrestling
|-
| align=left | Abilene Christian || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] || No || No || No
|-
| align=left | California Baptist || No || No || [[West Coast Conference|WCC]] || [[Big 12]]
|-
| align=left | Grand Canyon || No || [[MPSF]] || No || No
|-
| align=left | Southern Utah || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] || No || No || No
|-
| align=left | Tarleton || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] || No || No || No
|-
| align=left | Utah Tech || [[United Athletic Conference|UAC]] || No || No || No
|-
| align=left | Utah Valley || No || No || No || [[Big 12]]
|}

{{notelist|group=mn}}

===Women's sponsored sports by school===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%"
|-
!School !! Basketball !! Cross<br/>Country !! Golf !! Soccer !! Softball !! Swimming<br/>& Diving !! Tennis !! Track & Field<br/>(Indoor) !! Track & Field<br/>(Outdoor) !! Volleyball !! Total<br/>WAC Sports
|-
| Abilene Christian || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''9'''
|- 
| California Baptist ||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{no}}||{{no}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}|| '''8'''
|-
| Grand Canyon ||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}|| '''10'''
|-
| Seattle ||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}|| '''10'''
|-
| Southern Utah || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''8'''
|-
| Tarleton ||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{no}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}|| '''9'''
|-
| UT Arlington || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || '''8'''
|-
| Utah Tech ||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||'''10'''
|-
| Utah Valley ||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{no}}||{{no}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}|| '''8'''
|-
! colspan="12" | Associate Members
|-
| Idaho || || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| New Mexico State || || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| Northern Arizona || || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| Northern Colorado || || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
| UTRGV || || || || || || {{yes}} || || || || || '''1'''
|-
! Totals || 9 || 9 || 9 || 8 || 9 || 4+5 || 6 || 8 || 9 || 9 || '''80+5'''
|}

{{notelist|group=w}}

;Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Western Athletic Conference which are played by WAC schools

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!School !! Beach Volleyball !! Bowling !! Gymnastics !! Rowing !! Stunt{{efn|group=wn|Part of the [[NCAA Emerging Sports for Women]] program.}} !! Water Polo
|- 
| align=left | Abilene Christian || No || No || No || No || No || No
|- 
| align=left | California Baptist || No || No || No || No || Independent<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stuntthesport.org/college|title=College STUNT|website=STUNT the Sport|access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref> || [[Golden Coast Conference|GCC]]
|-
| align=left | Grand Canyon || [[MPSF]] || No || No || No || No || No
|-
| align=left | Seattle || No || No || No || [[Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association|WIRA]] || No || No
|-
| align=left | Southern Utah || No || No || [[MPSF]] || No || No || No
|-
| align=left | Tarleton || [[Conference USA|CUSA]] || No || No || No || No || No
|}

{{notelist|group=wn}}

==Football==
{{Main|Western Athletic Conference football|United Athletic Conference}}
The WAC sponsored [[College football|football]] from its founding in 1962 through the 2012 season. However, the defection of all but two football-playing schools to other conferences caused the conference to drop sponsorship after fifty-one years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moss |first=Irv |date=July 3, 2012 |title=Western Athletic Conference considers becoming a non-football league |url=http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_21002204/western-athletic-conference-considers-becoming-non-football-league |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816232319/http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_21002204/western-athletic-conference-considers-becoming-non-football-league |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |work=The Denver Post}}</ref>

===Reinstatement===
On January 14, 2021, the WAC announced its intention to reinstate football as a conference-sponsored sport at the FCS level, as well as the addition of five new members to the conference in all sports, including football.<ref>{{cite press release |title=WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football |url=https://www.wacsports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20210113xbg9zk |website=Western Athletic Conference|date=January 14, 2021 }}</ref> The new members announced include the "Texas Four" of [[Abilene Christian University]], [[Lamar University]], [[Sam Houston State University]], and [[Stephen F. Austin State University]], then members of the [[Southland Conference]], along with [[Southern Utah University]], currently of the [[Big Sky Conference]]. Originally, all schools were planned to join in July 2022, but the entry of the Texas Four was moved to July 2021 after the Southland expelled its departing members.<ref name=Blum/> The WAC also announced that it would most likely add another football-playing institution at a later date.

On the same day, news broke that the [[University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]], a non-football playing WAC member, had committed to create an FCS football program by 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jeyarajah |first=Shehan |title=UTRGV commits to add FCS football by 2024. |url=https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2021/01/14/utrgv-commits-to-add-fcs-football-by-2024?ref=article_preview_img |website=Dave Campbell's Texas Football |access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> The program will most likely compete as part of the newly-reinstated WAC football conference.

The WAC ultimately partnered with the [[ASUN Conference]] to reestablish its football league, with the Texas Four being joined by three incoming ASUN members for at least the fall 2021 season in what it calls the ASUN–WAC (or WAC–ASUN) Challenge.<ref name=ASUNWACFB/><ref name=ASUNWACupdate/> The Challenge was abbreviated as "AQ7", as the top finisher of the seven teams would be an automatic qualifier for the FCS postseason.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.krqe.com/sports/ncaa-football/fcs-college-football-2021-aq7-preview/ |title=FCS college football 2021: AQ7 preview |agency=Stats Perform |website=[[KRQE]] |date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> The two conferences renewed their alliance for the 2022 season, although both leagues will conduct separate conference seasons and then choose the alliance's automatic qualifier by an as-yet-undetermined process. Both the WAC and ASUN initially planned to have 6 playoff-eligible teams in 2022, but each lost such a member with the start of FBS transitions by Jacksonville State and Sam Houston.
{{see also|2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season#Membership changes}}

The WAC has been speculated to move back up to [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]] in the future following the reestablishment of the football conference at the FCS level.<ref>{{cite web |last=Deaver |first=Colin |title=Reports: WAC football to return in 2022, rise to FBS later in decade |url=https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/nmsu/reports-wac-football-to-return-in-2022-rise-to-fbs-later-in-decade/ |website=KTSM.com |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref>

As noted previously, further conference realignment led to a full merger of the ASUN and WAC football leagues, with the new [[United Athletic Conference]] having started play in 2023.

==Men's basketball==
{{color box|#ffa0a0}} Members departing in 2025.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Team
!First<br/>season
!All-Time<br/>record
!All-Time<br/>win %
!NCAA DI Tournament<br/>appearances
!NCAA DI Tournament<br/>record
!Arena
!Head coach
|-
|'''[[Abilene Christian Wildcats men's basketball|Abilene Christian]]'''
|1919
|1245-1169
|.516
|2
|1–2
|[[Moody Coliseum (Abilene Christian University)|Moody Coliseum]]
| [[Brette Tanner]]
|-
|'''[[California Baptist Lancers men's basketball|California Baptist]]'''
|2018
|50-35
|.588
|0
|0–0
|[[CBU Events Center]]
| [[Rick Croy]]
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
|'''[[Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball|Grand Canyon]]'''
|2013
|103-58
|.639
|2
|1–3
|[[Global Credit Union Arena]]
| [[Bryce Drew]]
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
|'''[[Seattle Redhawks men's basketball|Seattle]]'''
|1946
|978–874
|.528
|11
|10–13
|[[Redhawk Center]]
| [[Chris Victor]]
|-
|'''[[Tarleton State Texans men's basketball|Tarleton State]]'''
|2020
|10-10
|.500
|0
|0–0
|[[Wisdom Gymnasium]]
| [[Billy Gillispie]]
|-
|'''[[UT Arlington Mavericks men's basketball|UT Arlington]]'''
|1959
|809–1,013
|.444
|1
|0–1
|[[College Park Center]]
|[[K. T. Turner]]
|-
|'''[[Dixie State Trailblazers men's basketball|Utah Tech]]'''
|2020
|8-13
|.381
|0
|0–0
|[[Burns Arena]]
| [[Jon Judkins]]
|-
|'''[[Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball|Utah Valley]]'''
|2004<ref name="fs.ncaa.org">{{cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/alltimewinningest.pdf|title=All-Time Winningest Teams|year=2009|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411122923/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/alltimewinningest.pdf|archive-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref>
|234–194
|.547
|0
|0–0
|[[UCCU Center]]
|[[Todd Phillips (basketball)|Todd Phillips]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2023 |title=Todd Phillips named Utah Valley men's basketball head coach |url=https://gouvu.com/news/2023/4/6/mens-basketball-todd-phillips-named-utah-valley-mens-basketball-head-coach.aspx |access-date=July 2, 2023 |website=Utah Valley University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
|}

'''WAC tournament'''

{{Main|WAC men's basketball tournament}}

'''Rivalries'''

Men's basketball rivalries involving WAC teams include:
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
!colspan=2|Teams!!Meetings!!Record!!Series Leader!!Current Streak
|-
|[[Dixie State Trailblazers men's basketball|Utah Tech]]||[[Utah Valley Wolverines men's basketball|Utah Valley]]<ref name="KSL Sports">{{Cite news|url=https://kslsports.com/453041/utah-valley-dixie-state-announce-the-old-hammer-rivalry/|title=Utah Valley, Dixie State Announce 'The Old Hammer Rivalry'|work=KSL Sports|date=February 10, 2021|access-date=October 14, 2021|language=en}}</ref>
|2||3-5||Utah Valley||Utah Valley won 1
|-
|[[UT Arlington Mavericks men's basketball|UT Arlington]]||[[Texas State Bobcats basketball|Texas State]]
|80||41-39||UT Arlington||Texas State won 3
|-
|[[UT Arlington Mavericks men's basketball|UT Arlington]]||[[Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks basketball|Stephen F. Austin]]
|65||34-31||UT Arlington||UT Arlington won 2
|-
|[[UT Arlington Mavericks men's basketball|UT Arlington]]||[[North Texas Mean Green men's basketball|North Texas]]
|59 (since 1959)||33-26||North Texas||North Texas won 5
|}

'''Awards'''
{{Main|Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year}}

==Women's basketball==
{{color box|#ffa0a0}} Members departing in 2025.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Team
!First<br/>season
!All-Time<br/>record
!All-Time<br/>win %
!NCAA DI Tournament<br/>appearances
!NCAA DI Tournament<br/>record
!Arena
! Head coach
|-
|'''[[Abilene Christian Wildcats women's basketball|Abilene Christian]]'''
|1971
|891–531
|.627
|1
|0–1
|[[Moody Coliseum (Abilene Christian University)|Moody Coliseum]]
|[[Julie Goodenough]]
|-
|'''[[California Baptist Lancers women's basketball|California Baptist]]'''
|2018
|60-28
|.681
|0
|0–0
|[[CBU Events Center]]
| [[Jarrod Olson]]
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
|'''[[Grand Canyon Antelopes women's basketball|Grand Canyon]]'''
|2013
|143-113
|.558
|0
|0–0
|[[Global Credit Union Arena]]
| Molly Miller
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
|'''[[Seattle Redhawks women's basketball|Seattle]]'''
|1978
|640-685
|.483
|1
|0–1
|[[Redhawk Center]]
|Skyler Young
|-
|'''[[Tarleton State Texans women's basketball|Tarleton State]]'''
|2020
|25-29
|.463
|0
|0–0
|[[Wisdom Gymnasium]]
| Misty Wilson
|-
|'''[[UT Arlington Mavericks women's basketball|UT Arlington]]'''
|1972
|754–736
|.506
|3
|0–3
|[[College Park Center]]
|[[Shereka Wright]]
|-
|'''[[Dixie State Trailblazers women's basketball|Utah Tech]]'''
|2020
|10-19
|.345
|0
|0–0
|[[Burns Arena]]
| J.D. Gustin
|-
|'''[[Utah Valley Wolverines women's basketball|Utah Valley]]'''
|2004
|184–230
|.444
|1
|0–1
|[[UCCU Center]]
|Daniel Nielsen
|}

'''WAC tournament'''

{{Main|WAC women's basketball tournament}}

'''Rivalries'''

Women's basketball rivalries involving WAC teams include:
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
!colspan=2|Teams!!Meetings!!Record!!Series Leader!!Current Streak
|-
|[[Dixie State Trailblazers women's basketball|Utah Tech]]||[[Utah Valley Wolverines women's basketball|Utah Valley]]<ref name="KSL Sports"/>
|10||4-6||Utah Valley||Utah Valley won 1
|-
|[[UT Arlington Mavericks women's basketball|UT Arlington]]||[[Texas State Bobcats basketball|Texas State]]
|79||37-42||Texas State||UT Arlington won 3
|-
|[[UT Arlington Mavericks women's basketball|UT Arlington]]||[[Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks basketball|Stephen F. Austin]]
|70||21-49||Stephen F. Austin||UT Arlington won 2
|-
|[[UT Arlington Mavericks women's basketball|UT Arlington]]||[[North Texas Mean Green women's basketball|North Texas]]
|61||31-30||UT Arlington||UT Arlington won 2
|}

==Baseball==
The WAC has claimed seven NCAA baseball national championships. The most recent WAC national champion is the [[2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team]].

'''WAC tournament'''

{{Main|Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament}}

==Championships==
===Current champions===
Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wacsports.com/championships/2324championships |title=2023-24 WAC Championships |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://wacsports.com/championships/2223championships |title=2022-23 WAC Championships |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |access-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119052703/https://www.wacsports.com/championships/2223championships |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* For the sports in which the WAC recognizes both regular-season and tournament champions:
** (RS) indicates regular-season champion.
** (T) indicates tournament champion.
* For other sports, only a tournament champion is recognized.
* Champions from a previous school year are indicated with the calendar year of their title.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width:65%"
|-
!Season!!Sport!!Men's champion!!Women's champion
|-
! rowspan=3 | Fall 2023
| Cross country || California Baptist || Utah Valley
|-
| Soccer || Seattle (RS)<br/>California Baptist (T) || Utah Valley (RS)<br/>Grand Canyon (T) 
|-
| Volleyball || — || Stephen F. Austin (RS)<br/>Grand Canyon (T)
|-
! rowspan=3 | Winter 2023–24
| Indoor Track & Field || Southern Utah || Grand Canyon
|-
| Swimming & Diving || UNLV || Northern Arizona
|-
| Basketball || [[2023–24 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team|Grand Canyon]] (RS)<br/>[[2022–23 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team|Grand Canyon]] (T, 2023) || California Baptist (RS)<br/>[[2022–23 Southern Utah Thunderbirds women's basketball team|Southern Utah]] (T, 2023)
|-
! rowspan=5 | Spring 2023
| Golf || Grand Canyon || Sam Houston
|-
| Tennis || UT Arlington (RS & T) || UT Arlington (RS)<br/> Grand Canyon (T)
|-
| Softball || — || Utah Tech (RS)<br/>Grand Canyon (T)
|-
| Outdoor Track & Field || Grand Canyon || New Mexico State
|-
| Baseball || Grand Canyon (RS)<br/>Sam Houston (T) || —
|}

{{notelist|group=champs}}

===National championships===
The following teams have won [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] national championships while being a member of the WAC:

*[[Arizona Wildcats baseball|Arizona]] – [[College World Series|baseball]] ([[1976 College World Series|1976]])
*[[Arizona State Sun Devils baseball|Arizona State]] – baseball ([[1965 College World Series|1965]], [[1967 College World Series|1967]], [[1969 College World Series|1969]], [[1977 College World Series|1977]])
*[[BYU Cougars|BYU]] – [[NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship|men's track & field]] (shared the national title in 1970)
*[[BYU Cougars|BYU]] – [[NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships|men's golf]] (1981)
*[[BYU Cougars|BYU]] – [[NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship|women's cross country]] (1997)
*[[Fresno State Bulldogs|Fresno State]] – [[NCAA Division I Softball Championship|softball]] (1998)
*[[Fresno State Bulldogs baseball|Fresno State]] – baseball ([[2008 College World Series|2008]])
*[[Rice Owls baseball|Rice]] – baseball ([[2003 College World Series|2003]])
*[[UTEP Miners|UTEP]] – NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country (1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981)
*[[UTEP Miners|UTEP]] – NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field (1974,1975,1976,1978,1980,1981,1982)
*[[UTEP Miners|UTEP]] – NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field (1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982)
*[[UNLV Rebels|UNLV]] – [[NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships|men's golf]] (1998)

The WAC has also produced one [[AP Poll|AP]] national champion in football:

*[[BYU Cougars football|BYU]] ([[1984 BYU Cougars football team|1984]])

The following teams won [[Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women|AIAW]] (and forerunner DGWS) [[AIAW Champions|women's national championships]] while their universities were members of the WAC:

*[[Arizona State Sun Devils|Arizona State]] (15) – swimming (8), badminton (4), softball (2), golf (1)
*[[Utah Utes|Utah]] (3) – cross country (Div. II), gymnastics, skiing
*[[UTEP Miners|UTEP]] (1) – indoor track and field
{{See also|List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships|List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships}}

==Spending and revenue==

Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights/licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, food and novelties. Total expenses includes coaching/staff, scholarships, buildings/ground, maintenance, utilities and rental fees and all other costs including recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues and insurance costs.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
! style="width:100px;"| Conference Rank (2022)
! style="width:100px;"| National Rank (2022)
! style="width:190px;"| Institution
! style="width:130px;"| 2022 Total Revenue from Athletics<ref name="NCAA FINANCES">{{cite web|title=EADA Equity in Athletics Data Analysis|url=https://ope.ed.gov/athletics/#/|publisher=U.S. Department of Education|access-date=May 11, 2024}}</ref> 
! style="width:130px;"| 2022 Total Expenses on Athletics<ref name="NCAA FINANCES"/> 
|-bgcolor=orange
| 1
| 144
| {{sort|California Baptist|[[California Baptist University|California Baptist]]}}
| $35,409,150
| $32,709,356
|-bgcolor=orange
| 2
| 163
| {{sort|Grand Canyon|[[Grand Canyon University|Grand Canyon]]}}
| $30,717,802
| $30,717,802
|-
| 3
| 212
| {{sort|Abilene Christian|[[Abilene Christian]]}}
| $23,809,978
| $23,809,978
|-
| 4
| 228
| {{sort|Tarleton|[[Tarleton State University|Tarleton]]}}
| $22,035,629
| $21,124,971
|-bgcolor=orange
| 5
| 240
| {{sort|Seattle|[[Seattle University|Seattle]]}}
| $21,090,915
| $20,774,421
|-bgcolor=orange
| 6
| 273
| {{sort|Utah Valley|[[Utah Valley University|Utah Valley]]}}
| $17,485,442
| $17,485,442
|-bgcolor=orange
| 7
| 274
| {{sort|UT Arlington|[[UT Arlington]]}}
| $17,403,161
| $17,403,161
|-
| 8
| 278
| {{sort|Southern Utah|[[Southern Utah University|Southern Utah]]}}
| $16,543,527
| $16,543,527
|-
| 9
| 281
| {{sort|Utah Tech|[[Utah Tech]]}}
| $16,367,376
| $16,250,328
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:775px;"| Notes
|-
|Note 1 - Data from U.S. Department of Education Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool Database. Ranking based on revenue position in selection of records using NCAA Division I-FBS, NCAA Division I-FCS, and NCAA Division I without football criteria. (354 records were retrieved.) OPE Equity in Athletics Data Analysis Cutting Tool used in order to provide ranking for private institutions in the conference.
|-bgcolor=orange
|Note 2 - Non football programs
|-bgcolor=pink
|Note 3 - Reporting period is from midyear 2022 to midyear 2023
|}

==Facilities==
{{color box|#ffa0a0}} Members departing for the [[West Coast Conference]] in 2025.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|border=2|team=Western Athletic Conference | School | Basketball arena | Capacity | Soccer stadium | Capacity | Softball park | Capacity | Baseball park | Capacity }}
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Abilene Christian Wildcats|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Abilene Christian Wildcats|{{color|white|'''Abilene Christian'''}}]]
| [[Moody Coliseum (Abilene Christian University)|Moody Coliseum]]
| {{nts|4600}}
| [[Elmer Gray Stadium]]
| {{nts|1000}}
| [[Poly Wells Field]]
| {{nts|1000}}
| [[Crutcher Scott Field]]
| {{nts|4500}}
|- 
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Baptist Lancers|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[California Baptist Lancers|{{color|white|'''California Baptist'''}}]]
|[[Fowler Events Center]]
|{{nts|5050}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cbulancers.com/sports/2017/10/30/cbu-events-center.aspx |title=CBU Events Center |publisher=[[California Baptist Lancers]] |access-date=January 5, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106173233/http://cbulancers.com/sports/2017/10/30/cbu-events-center.aspx |archive-date=January 6, 2018 }}</ref>
|[[CBU Soccer Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancer Soccer Stadium |url=https://cbulancers.com/facilities/lancer-soccer-stadium/4 |publisher=California Baptist University Athletics |access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref>
|{{nts|500}}<ref>{{cite web |title=NCAA Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/521189 |publisher=NCAA |access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref>
|[[John C. Funk Stadium]]
|{{nts|500}}<ref name="CBU Facilities">{{cite web|title=CBU Facilities General Information|url=http://www.cbulancers.com/sports/2014/7/15/GEN_0715142256.aspx|publisher=California Baptist Lancers|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103519/http://www.cbulancers.com/sports/2014/7/15/GEN_0715142256.aspx|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>
|[[James W. Totman Stadium]]
|{{nts|800}}<ref name="CBU Facilities"/>
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Grand Canyon Antelopes|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Grand Canyon Antelopes|{{color|white|'''Grand Canyon'''}}]]
|[[Global Credit Union Arena]]
|{{nts|7000}}<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us: Grand Canyon University Arena|url=http://www.gcuarena.com/about/|publisher=Grand Canyon University|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108142130/http://www.gcuarena.com/about/|archive-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref>
|[[GCU Stadium]]
|2,800 seats<br/>6,000 cap.
|[[GCU Softball Stadium]]
|{{nts|300}}<ref>{{cite web|title=WAC 2014 Softball Media Guide|url=http://www.gculopes.com/documents/2014/2/6/WAC_Softball_Media_Guide.pdf|publisher=wacsports.com|access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>
|[[Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark]]
|{{nts|1500}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Seattle Redhawks|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Seattle Redhawks|{{color|white|'''Seattle'''}}]]
|[[Climate Pledge Arena]]<br/>[[Redhawk Center]] 
|{{nts|18,100}}<br>999
|Championship Field
|{{nts|650}}
| Logan Field at Seattle University Park
|{{nts|250}}
|[[Bannerwood Park]]
|{{nts|700}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Seattle 2013–14 Division I Baseball|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerteam|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|access-date=December 30, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105185447/http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerteam|archive-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Southern Utah Thunderbirds|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Southern Utah Thunderbirds|{{color|white|'''Southern Utah'''}}]]
| [[America First Event Center]]
| {{nts|5300}}
| [[Thunderbird Soccer Field]]
| {{nts|600}}
| [[Kathryn Berg Field]]
| {{nts|300}}<ref>{{cite web |title=NCAA Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/532537 |publisher=NCAA |access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref>
| colspan=2 align=center | ''Non-baseball school''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tarleton Texans|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Tarleton State Texans|{{color|white|'''Tarleton'''}}]]
| [[Wisdom Gym]]
| {{nts|2400}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tarletonsports.com/sports/2009/8/24/MBB_0824092714.aspx?id=72 |title=Wisdom Basketball Gym |publisher=Tarleton State Texans |access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref>
| Tarleton Soccer Complex<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarleton soccer outfits new field with 'game-changing' Hellas Matrix Turf |url=https://tarletonsports.com/news/2022/3/8/womens-soccer-tarleton-soccer-outfits-new-field-with-game-changing-hellas-matrix-turf.aspx |publisher=Tarleton State University |access-date=July 10, 2022 |date=March 8, 2022}}</ref>
| Not available
| [[Tarleton Softball Complex]]
| {{nts|500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tarletonsports.com/sports/2009/8/24/SB_0824093159.aspx?id=75 |title=Tarleton Softball Complex |publisher=Tarleton State Texans |access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref>
| [[Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex]]
| {{nts|750}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tarletonsports.com/sports/2009/8/24/BB_0824093033.aspx?id=74 |title=Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex |publisher=Tarleton State Texans |access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|UT Arlington Mavericks|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[UT Arlington Mavericks|{{color|white|'''UT Arlington'''}}]]
| [[College Park Center]]
| {{nts|7000}}
| colspan=2 align=center | ''Non-soccer school''
| [[Allan Saxe Field]]
| {{nts|622}}
| [[Clay Gould Ballpark]]
| {{nts|1600}}
|- 
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Utah Tech Trailblazers|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Utah Tech Trailblazers|{{color|white|'''Utah Tech'''}}]]
| [[Burns Arena]]
| {{nts|4779}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dixiestateathletics.com/sports/2012/7/31/BurnsArena.aspx |title=Burns Arena |publisher=Dixie State Trailblazers |access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref>
| Greater Zion Stadium
| {{nts|10000}}
| [[Karl Brooks Field]]
| {{nts|1000}}<ref>{{cite web |title=NCAA Statistics |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/532772?utf8=%E2%9C%93&year_id=532537&sport_id=532537&commit=Submit&org_sport_name=utah+tech&org_id=532772 |publisher=NCAA |access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref>
| [[Bruce Hurst Field]]
| {{nts|2500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dixiestateathletics.com/sports/2012/8/13/BB_0813121334.aspx |title=Bruce Hurst Field |publisher=Dixie State Trailblazers |access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Utah Valley Wolverines|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Utah Valley Wolverines|{{color|white|'''Utah Valley'''}}]]
|[[UCCU Center]]
|{{nts|8500}}
|Clyde Field
|{{nts|1000}}
|Wolverine Field
|{{nts|500}}
|[[UCCU Ballpark]]
|{{nts|5000}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|border=2|col1span=5|team=Western Athletic Conference | Affiliate members }}
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|border=2|team=Western Athletic Conference | School | Soccer stadium | Capacity | Baseball park | Capacity }}
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Air Force Falcons|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Air Force Falcons men's soccer|{{color|white|'''Air Force'''}}]]
|Cadet Soccer Stadium
|{{nts|1000}}
|colspan=2 rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|''Soccer-only member''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|UNLV Rebels|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[UNLV Rebels men's soccer|{{color|white|'''UNLV'''}}]]
|Peter Johann Memorial Field
|{{nts|2500}}
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Sacramento State Hornets|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[Sacramento State Hornets baseball|{{color|white|'''Sacramento State'''}}]]
|colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|''Baseball-only member''
|[[John Smith Field]]*
| {{nts|1200}}
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|San Diego State Aztecs|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[San Diego State Aztecs men's soccer|{{color|white|'''San Diego State'''}}]]
|[[SDSU Sports Deck]]
|{{nts|1500}}
|colspan=2 rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;"|''Soccer-only member''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|San Jose State Spartans|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[San Jose State Spartans men's soccer|{{color|white|'''San Jose State'''}}]]
|Spartan Soccer Field
|{{nts|500}}<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Men's Soccer|url=http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/a5d696eb#/a5d696eb/2|publisher=San Jose State University|access-date=December 30, 2017|page=1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051542/http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/a5d696eb#/a5d696eb/2|archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|UTRGV Vaqueros|color=#FFFFFF}}"| [[UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros|{{color|white|'''UTRGV'''}}]]
|UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex
|{{nts|1555}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://goutrgv.com/sports/2016/2/10/GEN_0210163842.aspx?id=309 |title=Facilities: UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex |publisher=UTRGV Vaqueros |access-date=October 27, 2023}}</ref>
|}

{{notelist|group=fac}}

==Awards==
'''Commissioner's Cup'''

The WAC awards its Commissioner's Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 19 men's and women's championships.

'''Joe Kearney Award'''

Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Dr. [[Joseph Kearney]], the awards are given annually to the top male and female WAC athlete. The various WAC member institutions Athletics Directors select the male award winner, while the WAC member institutions Senior Women's Administrators choose the female honoree.

'''Stan Bates Award'''

The award is named in honor of former WAC Commissioner [[Stan Bates]] and honors the WAC's top male and female scholar-athletes, recognizing the recipients' athletic and academic accomplishments. In addition, the awards carry a $3,000 postgraduate scholarship.

==Media==
===WAC Digital Network===
In 2014–15, the WAC initiated a new digital network to give fans high quality streaming internet access to many of its regular season games and postseason championships including volleyball, soccer, swimming and diving, basketball, softball and baseball.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=537066|title=History of the WAC|date=October 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113230002/http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=537066|archive-date=November 13, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Western Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{NCAA Division I all-sports conferences}}
{{NCAA Division I FCS conference navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Western Athletic Conference| ]]
[[Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines]]