Top-Seeded Lions Head to Las Vegas for WCC Championship

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After delivering one of the most remarkable seasons in program history, the Loyola Marymount University women's basketball team now turns their focus to Las Vegas and the 2026 Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Women's Basketball Championship. Riding the momentum of a historic regular season, the Lions enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed and outright WCC regular-season champions, marking the program's first conference title since the 2003-04 season.

LMU arrives in Las Vegas with confidence and momentum after finishing conference play with a 15-3 record - the best WCC mark in program history. The Lions' championship run has been fueled by resilience, depth, and a relentless team mentality that has defined their breakthrough campaign under head coach Aarika Hughes.

The title-clinching moment came in dramatic fashion on the road in Corvallis. In a tightly contested overtime battle against Oregon State, senior guard Andjela Matic delivered the defining shot of the regular season, knocking down a game-winning three-pointer with just two seconds remaining to secure a 71-69 victory and put the Lions in position to claim the outright conference crown. The win cemented LMU's place atop the WCC standings and capped off a regular season that saw the Lions rise from ninth in last year's conference standings to champions - the largest turnaround in league history.

The Lions' success has been driven by a balanced lineup featuring veteran leadership and emerging playmakers. Graduate guard Jess Lawson has anchored the team with her scoring presence and dominance on the glass, while Maya Hernandez has continued to emerge as one of the conference's most versatile forwards. In the backcourt, Matic has provided clutch playmaking and composure in big moments, helping guide LMU through several tight conference matchups.

Beyond individual performances, the Lions' identity has been built on collective effort. Throughout the season, LMU has leaned on its defensive intensity, depth, and chemistry - a culture that has helped the program exceed expectations after being picked ninth in the WCC preseason poll.

Now, the Lions look to carry that momentum into postseason play.

The 2026 Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Women's Basketball Championship will take place March 5-10 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. As the tournament's No. 1 seed, LMU receives a bye into the semifinal round and will open postseason play on Monday, March 9 at 12:00 PM, facing the winner of Sunday's Game 7 matchup on ESPN+. The tournament will conclude with the championship game on Tuesday, March 10 at 1:00 PM on ESPN2, where the winner will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

With a historic regular season already secured, the Lions now shift their focus to the next chapter of their story. For LMU, Las Vegas presents an opportunity not only to continue a magical season, but to add another milestone to a year that has already rewritten the program's record book.

Print Friendly Version