Utah Valley pays $1M in escrow to WAC to remain in conference tournaments after league issues ultimatum
The WAC's top seed was in danger of being ousted from the men's conference tournament bracket before playing a game
Utah Valley University has paid the WAC $1 million in escrow, as the school will now remain eligible for the conference's men's and women's tournaments, CBS Sports' Matt Norlander confirmed on Tuesday. The WAC issued an ultimatum to Utah Valley University earlier on Tuesday, casting the school's spot in the WAC Tournament field into jeopardy.
At issue was Utah Valley's exit fee as it prepares to depart for the Big West in July. The WAC's statement characterized the payment as necessary for compliance with a Utah judge's order requiring the $1 million escrow amount, which the WAC statement classified as an "agreed-upon exit fee."
"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," the statement said.
The WAC Tournament is set to begin Wednesday in Las Vegas. As the No. 1 seed, Utah Valley has an automatic bye to Thursday's semifinals on the men's side. Utah Valley's women's team is set to be the No. 4 seed in the WAC Tournament and would also have been impacted.
A statement from the WAC Board of Directors pic.twitter.com/Rq2djx5Nqb
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) March 10, 2026
"Since the Fourth District Court granted Utah Valley University's motion for injunctive relief, Utah Valley University (UVU) has been coordinating with the court on the proper way to deposit the requested funds," Utah Valley said in a statement. "No deposit deadline has been established by the Court, and UVU looks forward to competing in Las Vegas this week."
