Northwest Notes: July 23, 2026

Gonzaga, UCLA to meet in 

West Coast Hoops Showdown

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Intersport today announced the West Coast Hoops Showdown, a premier college basketball showcase set for Dec. 5 featuring national powers UCLA and Gonzaga at Honda Center in Anaheim.

The matchup between the Bruins and Bulldogs will tip off in primetime and air nationally on FOX. Final game time will be announced at a later date.

Fans will have the opportunity to purchase official travel packages for the West Coast Hoops Showdown, which include game tickets, hotel accommodations and VIP Hospitality at Honda Center. Fan travel packages are set to go on sale Aug. 18, allowing fans exclusive early access to secure their seats for the event ahead of the launch of public ticket sales. For more information visit WestCoastHoopsShowdown.com/travel.

Tickets for the event will go on sale starting Oct. 8, with a one-day presale taking place the day prior. Fans can register for the ticket presale at WestCoastHoopsShowdown.com/tickets.

“We are looking forward to playing Gonzaga in front of our fans in Orange County,” said UCLA coach Mick Cronin. “This is a great opportunity for our young men to play a high-caliber opponent in an area with a ton of Bruin fans. I know that it’s been a while since our team has played games in Anaheim, and we are grateful to everyone at the Honda Center for helping make this matchup happen. It’s vital for our college game to preserve some of these strong West Coast matchups, and UCLA taking on Gonzaga is a win-win for our sport. I’m encouraging all our Bruin fans to pack the Honda Center when we take the court on Saturday, Dec. 5.”

UCLA enters the 2026-27 season with a retooled roster under Cronin, whose tenure in Westwood has included five NCAA Tournament appearances and a run to the 2021 Final Four. The Bruins are expected to feature a new-look core built around returning guard Trent Perry and forward Eric Dailey Jr., two players positioned for expanded roles after helping UCLA reach the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Perry gives the Bruins an experienced backcourt piece with scoring and playmaking ability, while Dailey provides versatility, length and frontcourt production.

The Bruins also added several key pieces through the transfer portal, including guard Jaylen Petty, forwards Filip Jovic and Sergej Macura, and guard Azavier Robinson. That group gives UCLA additional depth, size and perimeter options as the program continues its transition into Big Ten competition. UCLA also strengthened its incoming talent base with the addition of Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica, one of the most highly regarded international prospects in the 2026 class, giving the Bruins another dynamic piece on the wing.

“Anytime Gonzaga and UCLA get together, it’s a great opportunity for college basketball,” said Gonzaga coach Mark Few. “Mick Cronin has done an outstanding job with their program, and we have tremendous respect for the way his teams compete. We’ve shared some unforgettable games over the years, and this is another exciting matchup. We’re looking forward to playing in front of so many Gonzaga fans in Southern California, and we know they’ll create a great atmosphere.”

Gonzaga enters the 2026-27 campaign with an experienced foundation under Few, a 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, who has built the Bulldogs into one of college basketball’s most consistent national programs. The Bulldogs are expected to be led by returning forward Braden Huff, who gives Gonzaga a proven interior presence and a key frontcourt piece around which to build. Huff’s return gives the Bulldogs size, efficiency and scoring ability in the paint as they prepare for another demanding non-conference schedule.

This will mark the seventh-straight season the Bruins and Bulldogs will meet, with two of those matchups coming in the NCAA Tournament (2021 and 2023). All time, Gonzaga holds an 8-3 advantage in the series, with Gonzaga earning an 82-72 victory over UCLA last season in Seattle.