- Judge Denise M. Porter granted Utah Valley University a 14-day restraining order.
- The injunction allows UVU athletes to compete in WAC events and broadcasts.
- UVU faces a $1 million lawsuit over exit fees in Texas court.
OREM — Utah Valley University has secured a win from the first quarter of its lawsuit with the Western Athletic Conference.
Judge Denise M. Porter granted a 14-day temporary restraining order Tuesday against the WAC that will immediately reinstate the university to all WAC-sponsored media broadcasts; permit all UVU teams and athletes to participate in league- and NCAA-sponsored postseason competition; and reinstate all UVU teams, coaches and athletes for eligibility of postseason awards and recognition, according to a copy of the injunction obtained by KSL.com.
The injunction, which was filed following Monday's legal arguments in Utah's Fourth District Court, permits the Wolverines to broadcast their games of conference-affiliated sports with the league's media partner, primarily ESPN+.
"The Court is persuaded that careful review of the motion pleadings, exhibits and papers show that UVU will likely prevail upon its claims and is entitled to the equitable remedy of a restraining order as relief to reinstate their participation in the conference while the fee issue is litigated to prevent irreparable harm," read a portion of the 11-page court filing.
Utah Valley will be back in court Friday in the $1 million lawsuit filed in Tarrant County court in Texas. The university is also seeking a change in jurisdiction that would move the initial suit from Texas to Utah.
"The Western Athletic Conference acknowledges the court's decision to grant a temporary restraining order in the pending matter involving Utah Valley University," WAC commissioner Rebekah Ray said in a statement. "The TRO is an interim measure that provides the court additional time to fully consider the legal issues presented, while protecting student-athletes' ability to compete.
"The conference remains confident in its legal position and will continue to defend and enforce its bylaws," the statement continued. "The WAC's priority remains providing stability for its member institutions."
An updated statement from WAC Commissioner Rebekah Ray pic.twitter.com/KRbLgcy84c
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) February 25, 2026
With the injunction, UVU athletes will be allowed to compete in the WAC indoor track and field championships, which begin Friday. The Wolverines will depart for The Podium in Spokane, Washington on Wednesday for the event, according to the university.
UVU's broadcasts from the Orem campus will be permitted to be reinstated during the 14-day window, including Thursday's men's basketball game against Tarleton State. The Wolverines (20-7, 10-4 WAC) are currently first in the conference, one-half game ahead of in-state rival Utah Tech.
Those two teams will play the third game of the conference series March 7 in St. George — four days before the WAC basketball tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. That meeting would fall outside of the current injunction window, meaning UVU would need a new temporary restraining order or a resolution to the lawsuit to compete in the WAC basketball tournament.
"We are committed to working toward a timely resolution that serves the best interests of our student-athletes," Utah Valley said in a statement, "but cannot provide additional comments while the matter is ongoing."
The WAC filed a $1 million lawsuit Feb. 2 over unpaid exit fees in Texas court, alleging the Wolverines refused to pay a "contractually obligated exit fee" for departing the conference — which will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference beginning July 1 — for the Big West this summer.
Among other arguments, attorneys for Utah Valley contended that the lawsuit caused "irreparable harm to the growth, visibility and recruiting ability of UVU's athletic programs" and that an agreement binding the seven remaining members of the conference had no merit because the university was not leaving for a new conference until after the specified end date of June 30, 2026.
