Washington State Basketball: Facts and Highlights

Washington State Basketball

Here are some interesting and lesser-known facts about basketball in Washington State:

University of Washington (UW) Huskies

Historic Success: The UW Huskies men's basketball team has made multiple appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a Final Four appearance in 1953.

NBA Talent: UW has produced several NBA stars, including Brandon Roy, Isaiah Thomas, and Matisse Thybulle.

Hec Edmundson Pavilion: The Huskies play their home games at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, one of the oldest basketball arenas in the country, opened in 1927.

Washington State University (WSU) Cougars

Elite Eight Run: The WSU Cougars men's basketball team reached the Elite Eight in 1941, their deepest NCAA Tournament run.

Klay Thompson: One of the greatest shooters in NBA history, Klay Thompson, played for WSU before being drafted by the Golden State Warriors.

Beasley Coliseum: The Cougars play at Beasley Coliseum, which has been their home since 1973 and is known for its passionate fan base.

Seattle University Redhawks

NCAA Glory: Seattle University made it to the NCAA Championship game in 1958, losing to Kentucky but cementing their place in basketball history.

Elgin Baylor: NBA legend Elgin Baylor played for Seattle University and led the team to their historic 1958 championship game appearance.

Return to Division I: After a long hiatus, Seattle University returned to Division I basketball in 2009.

High School Basketball

Talent Factory: Washington State has produced numerous NBA players, including Jamal Crawford (Rainier Beach High School) and Zach LaVine (Bothell High School).

State Championships: The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) hosts annual state championships, with schools like Garfield High School and Rainier Beach High School dominating in recent years.

Professional Basketball

Seattle SuperSonics: The Seattle SuperSonics were an NBA team from 1967 to 2008, winning the NBA Championship in 1979. Their relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008 left a void in the city's basketball heart.

WNBA’s Seattle Storm: The Seattle Storm, founded in 2000, have won four WNBA championships (2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020) and are one of the most successful franchises in the league.

Potential NBA Return: There has been ongoing speculation and efforts to bring an NBA team back to Seattle, with the Climate Pledge Arena (formerly KeyArena) being renovated to potentially host a future team.

Fun Facts

Hooptown USA: Spokane, Washington, has been dubbed 'Hooptown USA' due to its rich basketball culture and hosting events like the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga University: Although located in Spokane, Gonzaga University (a private Catholic university) has become a basketball powerhouse, frequently making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament and producing NBA talent.

Washington State has a rich basketball history at all levels, from high school to the pros, and continues to be a hotbed for talent and fan passion.

Washington State Basketball: Facts and Highlights

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