WSU Basketball Faces Grueling, Opportunity-Filled Week on Both Sides
It’s a rare three-game week for both the Washington State men’s and women’s basketball teams, and it’s coming at a pivotal time. With four games in seven days, both squads are staring down the kind of stretch that can shape a season.
The good news? They’re each coming off confidence-boosting wins to open conference play - the men stormed back to beat Portland, while the women handled Pepperdine - and both are now 1-0 in WCC action.
Let’s break down what lies ahead for each team, and why this week could be a launching pad - or a major gut check.
WSU Men: Three Games, Three Very Different Tests
Record: 6-8 overall, 1-0 WCC
Next Up: at Seattle U, Tuesday, 7 p.m. PT (ESPN+)
The Cougars' comeback win over Portland wasn’t just dramatic - it could be a turning point. Rallying from behind to keep a three-game win streak alive gives this group some much-needed swagger heading into a brutal week.
First up: a trip to Seattle to face a Redhawks team that’s no joke. Seattle U is 11-3, and while they dropped their WCC opener, they’ve already notched wins over Washington and Stanford. This game’s big enough that it’s being moved to Climate Pledge Arena - a sign that the Redhawks expect a sizable crowd and a high-stakes atmosphere.
Seattle U hangs its hat on defense. Chris Victor’s squad ranks 49th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency, and they make you work for everything.
Opponents are shooting just 30.9% from three and 48.2% inside the arc - both top-80 marks nationally. They’re not perfect (they can give up second-chance points), but they grind you down.
If WSU wants to keep its momentum going, it’ll have to match that grit. This one has all the makings of a defensive slugfest, and the Cougars can’t afford to fall into a scoring drought. Stops will be the name of the game.
Game Two: LMU Comes to Pullman
When: Friday, 6:30 p.m. PT (ESPN+)
After the road trip, the Cougars return home to face a Loyola Marymount team that’s been tough to figure out. The Lions started the season 6-0 but have cooled off recently, now sitting at 9-5. Still, they just pushed Saint Mary’s to the brink, so they’re clearly capable of giving good teams trouble.
There’s also some bad blood here. These two teams didn’t exactly exchange holiday cards last season - tensions flared in both the regular season and the WCC Tournament. Expect a physical game, and maybe a little extra juice.
Like Seattle U, LMU brings size and defensive intensity. This won’t be a track meet. If WSU wants to win, they’ll need to bring the same defensive effort they showed late against Portland - and find enough offense to break through LMU’s front line.
Game Three: Neutral-Site Matchup vs. Oregon State
When: Sunday, 4:30 p.m. PT (ESPN+) in Spokane
The week wraps up with a matchup against Oregon State in Spokane - and this one’s a wild card. The Beavers are sitting at 7-7 and have been all over the map. Wins over Arizona State and North Texas show they can play, but losses to Evansville, Iona, and UMass (plus a 38-point blowout at home against Santa Clara) reveal just how inconsistent they’ve been.
The road hasn’t been kind to Oregon State, and they’re not nearly as stout defensively as Seattle U or LMU. This could be the game where WSU’s offense finds its rhythm - but only if the Cougars bring energy on both ends.
The formula for the men this week is pretty simple: Defend like they have been, and find enough offense to stay in control. None of these games are easy, but none are out of reach either. Survive this stretch with a couple wins, and the season outlook starts to shift in a big way.
WSU Women: Time to Build Some Momentum
Record: 2-12 overall, 1-0 WCC
Next Up: vs.
LMU, Tuesday, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN+)
Sunday’s win over Pepperdine was more than just a W - it was a much-needed exhale. The Cougars had been stuck in a brutal stretch, but now they’ve got a chance to stack some wins and flip the narrative.
They’ll open the week at home against LMU, a 6-6 team that hasn’t exactly been tested. The Lions played one of the softest non-conference schedules around, though they did take Gonzaga to overtime - so they’re not to be taken lightly. Still, this is a game WSU needs to win if they want to climb out of the early-season hole.
Game Two: Road Test at Portland
When: Friday, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN+)
This one carries a little extra weight. Portland is 7-6 and 1-0 in WCC play, but the team that beat WSU three times last season has largely moved on. Graduation hit the Pilots hard, and while a road game is never easy, this version of Portland is far more vulnerable.
For the Cougars, it’s a chance to flip the script - and maybe get some revenge in the process.
Game Three: Wrapping Up at Seattle U
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. PT (ESPN+) at The Redhawk Center
The final stop of the week is a road game against a struggling Seattle U team that’s just 4-8 and 0-1 in conference play. The Redhawks have only beaten two Division I teams all season, and this one’s not at Climate Pledge - it’s in the smaller Redhawk Center.
Simply put, this is a game WSU should win - and win convincingly. If the Cougars take care of business, they could walk out of the week with a 4-12 record that suddenly feels a little less daunting.
Final Word
This is one of those weeks that tests your depth, your focus, and your resilience. Three games in seven days is no joke, but for both WSU squads, it’s also a chance to make a statement.
For the men, it’s about proving they can hang with - and beat - quality teams. For the women, it’s about building belief and momentum.
The grind is real. But so is the opportunity.