SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The 2025 West Coast Conference Rowing Championships will be held from May 16-17, at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif.
 
Friday's racing begins with heats across all classifications, beginning with the second varsity four at 8:30 a.m. PT for its two heats. The varsity four heads out for two heats at 9:00 a.m. PT followed by the second varsity eight and its heats at 9:30 a.m. PT. The varsity eight wraps up Friday's heat races with two heats of its own starting at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Saturday’s racing kicks off with the petite finals, comprised of the boats that do not advance to the grand finals through Friday's heat races.
 
Five full-time West Coast Conference member schools – Gonzaga, Portland, Saint Mary’s, San Diego, Santa Clara – and four affiliates in Creighton, Oregon State, Sacramento State and Washington State make up the Conference championship field.
 
Gonzaga is the nine-time defending West Coast Conference champions after capturing its 22nd title in 2024 at Lake Natoma. The Zags have won 22 of 27 Conference women’s rowing championships, including the first nine between 1997 and 2005. San Diego has won four titles, the last coming in 2014. 

Oregon State is currently the only West Coast Conference program ranked in the Pocock CRCA Coaches' Poll, coming in at No. 20 nationally. The Beavers have taken down ranked opponents in each of the last four regattas that they have raced in. Oregon State was picked to win the West Coast Conference in the annual preseason coaches' poll.

Washington State last raced at the Lake Wheeler invitational, where the varsity eight boat placed fourth. The Cougars beat nationally ranked North Carolina in that race after facing off against other ranked competition. Washington State was named Heluva Good Dip West Coast Conference Crew of the Week for its efforts on April 29.

Sacramento State last competed at the Oregon State Invite at Dexter Lake. The Hornets were coming off a medal at the WIRA's and placed third behind nationally-ranked Oregon State and USC. Sacramento State's varsity eight had a time of 7:02.95.

Portland took second in all of its races in the WIRA's at Lake Natoma. The varsity eight started things off for the Pilots, finishing second to Sacramento State with a time of 6:48.546. 

Saint Mary's last raced in Chula Vista against San Diego and UC San Diego. The Gaels' first varsity eight boat picked up their first win of the event, defeating San Diego with a time of 7:07.78. In the second race amidst windier conditions, Saint Mary's varsity eight finished ahead of UC San Diego for its second win of the weekend.

Santa Clara last competed in the WIRA's at Lake Natoma, where the varsity eight logged a time of 7:07.46. The Broncos won the novice four race later in the event.

San Diego was last in the water at the Oregon State Invite at Dexter Lake. The Toreros' varsity eight placed fourth in its race with a time of 7:15.79 while USD's second varsity four had a nice showing with a second-place finish in its race with a time of 8:04.16.

Creighton set records in Kansas City in its most recent set of races. Both the first and second varsity eight recorded program records. Creighton's first varsity eight finished with a time of 6:38.39 while the second varsity eight followed up with a time of 6:57.1.

All West Coast Conference Rowing programs have had roughly two weeks off from racing by the time they hit the water in Lake Natoma. Saturday's races will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Following the West Coast Conference Championship, the NCAA Selection Show is slated for Tuesday, May 20 at 2 p.m. PT on NCAA.com. The NCAA Championship will take place May 30-June 1 in West Windsor, N.J., at Mercer Lake.