OREM — The WAC is trying to box out Utah Valley from another rebound.
The Western Athletic Conference is prepared to keep the Wolverines out of the men's and women's basketball tournaments in Las Vegas as a member not in good standing if certain conditions are not met by Tuesday evening, the league's board of directors announced Tuesday morning.
As part of Utah judge's order directing an injunction against a $1 million lawsuit proposed by the conference for allegedly not paying an exit fee before leaving for the Big West Conference in July, the WAC says Utah Valley has not placed $1 million in escrow with the court.
"As the court ordered preliminary injunction is contingent upon that directive, the WAC board of directors has instructed the commissioner to plan for the men's and women's WAC basketball tournaments without Utah Valley University, as it would be a member not in good standing," read a statement from the league.
Utah Valley women's basketball was scheduled to open the conference tournament Thursday against fifth-seeded Tarleton State The top-seeded Wolverines men's team was scheduled to begin play in Friday's semifinals against the winner of No. 4 UT Arlington and No. 5 Southern Utah.
"The conference regrets that the intention actions of Utah Valley University have caused uncertainty and harm for institutions, student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans across the WAC — including at Utah Valley University," the statement continued.
A statement from the WAC Board of Directors pic.twitter.com/Rq2djx5Nqb
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) March 10, 2026
The WAC will release a new bracket with Utah Valley for both its men's and women's basketball tournaments if the Wolverines don't comply with a court-ordered mandate to place $1 million in escrow by 5 p.m. MDT Tuesday.
As it has during the course of the current litigation, Utah Valley argued in opposition to the conference's allegations. The school filed a response shortly after the WAC's post on social media.
"To set the record straight, the Utah Attorney General's office contacted the Court on Friday, March 6, 2026 at 5:02 p.m. seeking guidance from the Court on how to satisfy the directive to deposit the funds," read Utah court documents obtained by ESPN.
A follow-up conversation was then made by phone, when the university was told directions on how to make the deposit would be provided by Tuesday, according to the court filing.
The conference initially sued the departing member back in February, filing a lawsuit in Texas court alleging $1 million the school's failure to pay a "contractually obligated exit fee" of $1 million in order to join the Big West beginning July 1. The league also enforced league bylaws for non-compliant members, effectively barring Utah Valley teams, coaches and athletes from competing in postseason competition and having its games and meets broadcast through the WAC's media partners.
Utah Valley responded with an initial attempt at a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction against the conference, and a Utah judge granted an initial injunction that allowed the university to compete in the WAC indoor track and field championships (which was won by the men's team).
The university filed for another injunction, which was awarded Friday to allow the Wolverines to compete in the men's and women's basketball tournament. The injunction was granted the day after the university's men's team clinched the WAC regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the WAC tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
But as part of the injunction, Utah Valley was directed to pay the court $1 million to be held in escrow "during the dispute in this litigation," according to court documents.
The injunction would order the WAC to "immediately reinstate UVU to all WAC-sponsored media broadcasts," and permit the Wolverines to participate "in all upcoming WAC and NCAA postseason tournaments and/or championships," as well as reinstate athletes and coaches for postseason awards considerations.
