The West Coast Conference tournament concludes Tuesday at the Orleans Arena, with top-seeded Gonzaga facing No. 3 Santa Clara at 6 p.m. on ESPN. The winner earns the conference’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga, a perennial national power, is expected to reach the NCAA field regardless of Tuesday’s result. For Santa Clara, the stakes are higher: the Broncos have not made the NCAA Tournament since 1996 and must win the WCC title to end that drought.

Santa Clara advanced by upsetting second-seeded Saint Mary’s in the semifinals, while Gonzaga defeated its semifinal opponent to set up the championship matchup. The Bulldogs have dominated the WCC tournament historically, but Santa Clara enters with confidence after their semifinal victory.

History at the Orleans Arena favors top seeds: every WCC champion since 2009 has been a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Santa Clara aims to break that trend and secure its first NCAA bid in three decades.

Fans can stream the game on the ESPN app with a valid TV provider login.