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OREM — The WAC tried to box out Utah Valley, but the Wolverines secured the rebound.
After a back-and-forth legal argument and several temporary restraining orders, the Western Athletic Conference warned the university Tuesday that it had been authorized to pull the men's and women's basketball teams from the conference's annual tournament in Las Vegas if it did not deposit $1 million into a court-run escrow account.
As part of a Utah judge's order directing an injunction Friday against a $1 million lawsuit proposed by the conference for allegedly not paying an exit fee before leaving for the Big West Conference, the WAC says Utah Valley had not placed the funds in escrow with the court.
"As the court ordered preliminary injunction is contingent upon that directive, the WAC board of directors has instructed the commissioner to plan for the men's and women's WAC basketball tournaments without Utah Valley University, as it would be a member not in good standing," read a statement from the league.
After a day-long addendum to the months-long litigation, Utah Valley revealed in a statement it was working with Utah's Fourth District Court to deposit $1 million into a court account in order to comply with the judge's conditions of a preliminary injunction to play in the tournament.
"Utah Valley University has been coordinating with the court on the proper way to deposit the requested funds," the school said in a statement. "No deposit deadline has been established by the Court, and UVU looks forward to competing in Las Vegas this week."
The money is expected to be deposited Wednesday. Those funds will be held in escrow under court order "during the dispute in this litigation," according to the terms of the injunction allowing Utah Valley to play in the qualifying tournament for an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Source: The WAC has been informed that Utah Valley University has provided the $1 million in escrow which, per judge's orders, was necessary for them to play in the WAC men's and women's conference tournaments. pic.twitter.com/fN2JHWB3fu
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 11, 2026
Utah Valley women's basketball was scheduled to open the conference tournament Thursday against fifth-seeded Tarleton State The top-seeded Wolverines men's team was scheduled to begin play in Friday's semifinals against the winner of No. 4 UT Arlington and No. 5 Southern Utah.
"The conference regrets that the intention actions of Utah Valley University have caused uncertainty and harm for institutions, student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans across the WAC — including at Utah Valley University," the statement continued.
The WAC said it would release a new bracket without receipt of the court-ordered mandated $1 million by 5 p.m. MDT Tuesday, a mandated deadline that went against the directive of the court's order.
As it has during the course of the current litigation, Utah Valley argued in opposition to the conference's allegations. The school filed a response shortly after the WAC's post on social media, saying it contacted the court beginning Friday at 5:02 p.m. MDT "seeking guidance from the Court on how to satisfy the directive to deposit the funds."
A follow-up conversation was also made by phone, when the university was told directions on how to make the deposit would be provided by Tuesday, according to the court filing.
A statement from the WAC Board of Directors pic.twitter.com/Rq2djx5Nqb
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) March 10, 2026
The conference initially sued the departing member back in February, filing a lawsuit in Texas court alleging $1 million the school's failure to pay a "contractually obligated exit fee" of $1 million in order to join the Big West beginning July 1. The league also enforced league bylaws for non-compliant members, effectively barring Utah Valley teams, coaches and athletes from competing in postseason competition and having its games and meets broadcast through the WAC's media partners.
Utah Valley responded with an initial attempt at a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction against the conference, and a Utah judge granted an initial injunction that allowed the university to compete in the WAC indoor track and field championships (which was won by the men's team).
The university filed for another injunction, which was awarded Friday to allow the Wolverines to compete in the men's and women's basketball tournament. The injunction was granted the day after the university's men's team clinched the WAC regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the WAC tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
But as part of the injunction, Utah Valley was directed to pay the court $1 million to be held in escrow "during the dispute in this litigation," according to court documents.
The injunction ordered the WAC to "immediately reinstate UVU to all WAC-sponsored media broadcasts," and permit the Wolverines to participate "in all upcoming WAC and NCAA postseason tournaments and/or championships," as well as reinstate athletes and coaches for postseason awards considerations.
