Nov. 17, 2008

SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- The West Coast Conference today announced its 2008-2009 Olympic and Women's Sports package to add to its national television contract. This package will allow a minimum of eight "Olympic," or non-men's basketball, games to be broadcasted nationally via ESPNU or CBS College Sports.

"This is an exciting time for our conference, especially for our women's sports programs," said West Coast Conference Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "We look forward to working with ESPNU and CBS College Sports to highlight our outstanding, nationally competitive Olympic sports."

This year, the WCC currently has four women's volleyball teams ranked in the Top 25 in the nation and two women's soccer teams in the Top 15. Women's basketball also proves to be another anticipated season, as Gonzaga University will return WCC Player of the Year Heather Bowman, WCC Defensive Player of the Year Jami Bjorklund, and WCC Newcomer of the Year Courtney Vandersloot. University of San Diego also returns All-WCC selection Amber Sprague and All-Freshman selection Sam Child. In addition, 2008 all-conference selections, Miranda Ayim of Pepperdine University and Jontelle Smith of Saint Mary's College, will be back in action.

With this agreement, the majority of the broadcasted games will be women's sports events. There will be one baseball game (with dates and teams to be announced) that will air in the spring.

About the West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has evolved and grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics, with 13 conference-sponsored sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's crew, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball. The WCC is characterized by the stability of its membership - only two conferences have been together longer - and its unique emphasis on combining excellence in athletics with excellence in academics.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE ON ESPNU/CBS COLLEGE SPORTS

Thursday, October 16
Women's Volleyball, San Diego at Santa Clara, 8:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

Sunday, November 2
Women's Soccer, Santa Clara at Portland, 1:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Thursday, January 15
Women's Basketball, Gonzaga at Santa Clara, 7:00 p.m. (CBS College)

Saturday, January 17
Women's Basketball, San Diego at Loyola Marymount, 8:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

Thursday, February 5
Women's Basketball, Saint Mary's at San Francisco, 7:00 p.m. (CBS College)

Thursday, February 19
Women's Basketball, Portland at Pepperdine, 7:00 p.m. (CBS College)

Monday, March 9
Women's Basketball, Championship Final, 12:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

TBA
Baseball, Teams TBA, Time TBA (ESPNU)