# Western Collegiate Lacrosse League

The Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) is a conference that participates in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA). The WCLL operates in California, Nevada, and Oregon and is split into two divisions, Division I and Division II. The conference is governed by an executive board and the teams that win the conference's divisional playoffs receive automatic bids to the MCLA National Tournament.

## History
### California Lacrosse Association Era (1959–1979)

The roots of the WCLL go back to 1959 when the California Lacrosse Association (CLA) was created. This was a hybrid organization that included both college and men's club teams in Southern California. Similarly, the teams in Northern California participated in the Northern California Lacrosse Association (NCLA). The founding members of the CLA included Claremont, Los Angeles Lacrosse Club, Orange County Lacrosse Club, San Fernando Valley Lacrosse Club, OMBAC, San Marino Lacrosse Club and others. In 1969, UCLA joined the league, followed by UCSB in 1970.
In 1976, the CLA expanded with the addition of Southern California. On occasion the CLA Champion would face the NCLA Champion at the end of the season to determine a conference or "California State Champion". UCSB captured the final state championship played under this arrangement defeating their northern counterparts in 1978. In 1979, at the urging of CLA VP and San Diego State alum Mitch Fenton, a separate organization for the collegiate teams in both the CLA and NCLA was brainstormed.

### California Collegiate Lacrosse Association Era (1980–1982)

The union that would eventually become the WCLL was founded on Super Bowl Sunday, January 20, 1980, as the California Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA). A select few gathered at the house of then UCLA Head Coach Mayer Davidson's house in West Los Angeles. Co-founders also included Stanford Head Coach Sam Sadtler, the Claremont Head Coach and Mitch Fenton. The original 9 members were: California, Claremont, San Diego State, Santa Clara, Southern California, Stanford, UC Davis, UCLA and UCSB. Fenton served as the first president of the association. In the inaugural championship, the UCSB Gauchos defeated the Stanford Cardinal. One year later, Whittier College joined the league. In 1982, the University of Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona joined the CCLA. That same year the Stanford Cardinal took home the championship defeating UCLA at Stanford.

### WCLL Expansion Era (1982–2008)

In 1983, the CCLA renamed itself the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League. That same year Cal Poly SLO joined the conference. Arizona Head Coach and WCLL co-founder Mickey-Miles Felton, who was instrumental in the addition of the Arizona schools the year before, served as the league's first president. The WCLL Championship Trophy is named in his honor.
In 1985, Loyola Marymount University was admitted to the conference. In 1987, Chico State was admitted as a full member of the conference.
In 1988, the WCLL split into A and B divisions (later I and II). That same year Chapman University and San Jose State University joined the WCLL as Division II members. In 1989, Sonoma State joined the WCLL.
In 1997, the WCLL, was one of the charter conferences in the US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates (USLIA). Prior to the 2000 season, Whittier College departed joining the NCAA Division III as an independent. Following the 2002 season, Division II member Cal State San Marcos left the conference. Following the 2004 season, Division II member Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) left the conference.
The addition of the University of Nevada, Reno and St. Mary's College to the WCLL Division I at the annual conference meeting in 2004 lead to a massive realignment of the conference. The 20 Division I teams were split into 4 geographic divisions (North, Central, Los Angeles and South) for the 2005 season. In 2005, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and UC Santa Cruz joined the league, followed by Cal State Fullerton and the readmittance of San Jose State in 2006. That same year, the USLIA reorganized into the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA).

### Departure of Southern Teams (2009)

The league grew into the largest MCLA conferences but saw big changes in 2009. The University of California, Merced joined the league for the 2009 season but the league lost its entire Central Division, made up of Chapman, UC Santa Barbara, Claremont, Loyola Marymount, USC, and UCLA; and lost the majority of its Southern Division, including: Arizona State, San Diego State, Arizona, San Diego, UC San Diego. The WCLL also lost six of ten Division II members, including: Biola, Cal Lutheran, Cal State Fullerton, Occidental, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, and UNLV. The departing teams formed the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (SLC).

### Modern Era (since 2009)

After the departure of its southern teams, the WCLL entered a period which would see several teams join, only to cease operations shortly thereafter. This included UC Merced (2009-2012), Cal-State Monterey Bay (2013-2014), the University of San Francisco (2015-2016), and culminated in one of the league's oldest members, University of the Pacific, folding in 2017.
In 2014, Sierra Nevada College joined the conference, they would go on to win four back-to-back division II championships from 2015 to 2018. The team ultimately folded in 2022 after their school was sold to the University of Nevada at Reno, which closed all of its sports teams.
In 2020, UC Santa Barbara returned to the WCLL after 11 years (2009-2019) in the SLC.
In 2023, the WCLL expanded to include its first team from Oregon, Southern Oregon University, moving over from the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL). At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Dominican University announced that it would be departing the WCLL, joining the NCAA Division II as an independent in 2024.

## Teams

| Institution | Location | Enrollment | Nickname | Tenure | Conference Championships |
| Division I ||||||
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, California | 22,287 | Mustangs | 1983 - Present | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, California | 9,015 | Broncos | 1980 - Present | |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, California | 7,807 | Seawolves | 1989 - Present | 2001, 2002, 2006 |
| Stanford University | Palo Alto, California | 17,246 | Cardinal | 1980 - Present | 1982, 2013, 2015 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | 45,307 | Golden Bears | 1980 - Present | 1981, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2018, 2019 |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, California | 26,179 | Gauchos | 1980 - 2009, 2019 - Present | 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2023, 2024 |
| University of Nevada, Reno | Reno, Nevada | 20,718 | Wolf Pack | 2004 - Present | |
| Division II ||||||
| California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt | Arcata, California | 6,431 | Hogs | 1985 - 1999, 2010 - Present | |
| California State University, Chico | Chico, California | 16,630 | Wildcats | 1987 - Present | 1988, 1989, 2024 |
| California State University, Monterey Bay | Seaside, California | 6,871 | Otters | 2013 - 2014, 2025 - Present | |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga, California | 3,761 | Gaels | 1989 - Present | 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| San José State University | San Jose, California | 35,751 | Spartans | 1988 - 1992, 2006 - Present | |
| Southern Oregon University | Ashland, Oregon | 6,114 | Raiders | 2023 - Present | |
| University of California, Davis | Davis, California | 40,031 | Aggies | 1980 - Present | 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, California | 19,161 | Banana Slugs | 2005 - 2019, 2022 - Present | 1993, 2009, 2013 |
^a Despite the official mascot of Cal Poly Humboldt being the Lumberjacks, the lacrosse team is referred to as the Hogs due to an initial lack of support from the University.

## Former members

| Institution | Location | Team Nickname | Tenure | Reason for Departure |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, Arizona | Sun Devils | 1982–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| Biola University | La Mirada, California | Eagles | 2001–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division II |
| Brigham Young University | Provo, Utah | Cougars | c.1985–c.1991 | Moved to MCLA - RMLC Division I |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, California | Kingsmen | 2005–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division II |
| California State University, East Bay | Hayward, California | Pioneers | 1997–2004 | ceased operations in 2004 |
| California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton, California | Titans | 2006–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division II |
| California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento, California | Hornets | 1986–1998 | ceased operations in 1998 |
| California State University, San Marcos | San Marcos, California | Cougars | 2002-2002 | ceased operations in 2002 |
| Chapman University | Orange, California | Panthers | 1988–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| Claremont Colleges | Claremont, California | Cougars | 1980–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, California | Penguins | 2015–2023 | Moved to NCAA - Independent Division II |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, California | Lions | 1985–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, Arizona | Lumberjacks | 1982–unknown | Moved to MCLA - RMLC Division II |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, California | Tigers | 2006–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division II |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, California | Waves | unknown–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division II |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, California | Aztecs | 1980–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| Sierra Nevada University | Incline Village, Nevada | Eagles | 2014–2022 | ceased operations in 2022 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, Arizona | Wildcats | 1982–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| University of California, Irvine | Irvine, California | Anteaters | 1988–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division II |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | Bruins | 1980–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| University of California, Merced | Merced, California | Golden Bobcats | 2009-2012 | ceased operations in 2012 |
| University of California, San Diego | San Diego, California | Tritons | 1988–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Las Vegas, Nevada | Rebels | 2005–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, California | Tigers | 1980–2017 | ceased operations in 2017 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, California | Toreros | 1987–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, California | Dons | 2015–2016 | ceased operations in 2016 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California | Trojans | 1980–1986, 1991–1996, 1998–2009 | Moved to MCLA - SLC Division I |
| Whittier College | Whittier, California | The Poets | 1981–1999 | Moved to NCAA - Independent Division III |
^b The Claremont Colleges team is referred to as the Cougars because the team is independent from any individual college, and instead represents the entirety of the Claremont College Consortium.

## Conference championship
### Division I

When the conference was formed in 1980, it was determined that the top team of the Northern Division would play the top team of the Southern Division at the end of the season to determine the conference champion. This changed in 1985 when the conference championship was turned into a four team tournament among the top two teams in each division. The 2005 season introduced two new divisions to the WCLL, the Central Division and the Los Angeles Division, each of whom would send their top two teams to tournament. After many teams left in 2009, the conference dissolved all of its divisions and changed the tournament to be among the conference's top four teams. In 2019, the conference reintroduced its North Division and South Division, the champions of which would receive a bye round in a six-team tournament.
Division I Champions :
| Season | Conference Champion | Score | Runner-up |
| 1980 | UC Santa Barbara | 16-12 | Stanford |
| 1981 | California | 14-8 | UC Santa Barbara |
| 1982 | Stanford | 11-8 | UC Los Angeles |
| 1983 | UC Santa Barbara | 12-11 | Arizona |
| 1984 | UC Santa Barbara | 10-9$^{OT}$ | San Diego State |
| 1985 | Whittier | 18-7 | Arizona |
| 1986 | Whittier | 12-11 | UC Santa Barbara |
| 1987 | UC Santa Barbara | 13-8 | Whittier |
| 1988 | Whittier | 18-15 | Sonoma State |
| 1989 | Whittier | 16-12 | Sonoma State |
| 1990 | Arizona | 6-5 | UC Santa Barbara |
| 1991 | Whittier | 16-8 | UC Santa Barbara |
| 1992 | Whittier | 13-9 | Arizona |
| 1993 | Whittier | 14-10 | California |
| 1994 | California | 14-10 | UC San Diego |
| 1995 | California | 13-5 | UC Santa Barbara |
| 1996 | Whittier | 17-9 | Chapman |
| 1997 | Whittier | 29-10 | Arizona |
| 1998 | California | 16-15$^{OT}$ | Whittier |
| 1999 | Whittier | 11-8 | Sonoma State |
| 2000 | California | 12-10 | Sonoma State |
| 2001 | Sonoma State | 22-9 | Arizona |
| 2002 | Sonoma State | 8-4 | Stanford |
| 2003 | UC Santa Barbara | 14-9 | Sonoma State |
| 2004 | UC Santa Barbara | 11-1 | Arizona |
| 2005 | UC Santa Barbara | 8-7 | Sonoma State |
| 2006 | Sonoma State | 7-3 | Arizona |
| 2007 | UC Santa Barbara | 7-5 | Arizona |
| 2008 | Chapman | 17-9 | Arizona State |
| 2009 | Cal Poly | 17-9 | Sonoma State |
| 2010 | Cal Poly | 13-7 | California |
| 2011 | Cal Poly | 11-6 | Stanford |
| 2012 | Cal Poly | 11-8 | California |
| 2013 | Stanford | 8-7 | Sonoma State |
| 2014 | Cal Poly | 16-5 | California |
| 2015 | Stanford | 11-10$^{2OT}$ | Cal Poly |
| 2016 | Cal Poly | 9-8 | California |
| 2017 | Cal Poly | 10-8 | California |
| 2018 | California | 6-4 | Cal Poly |
| 2019 | California | 17-9 | Santa Clara |
| 2020 | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2022 | Cal Poly | 12-11 | California |
| 2023 | UC Santa Barbara | 11-5 | Cal Poly |
| 2024 | UC Santa Barbara | 13-11 | California |
Division I Records :
| Team | Championships | Winning years | Runner-up | Runner-up Years |
| Whittier | 10 | 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999 | 2 | 1987, 1998 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 10 | 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2023, 2024 | 5 | 1981, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995 |
| Cal Poly | 8 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022 | 3 | 2015, 2018, 2023 |
| California | 7 | 1981, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2018, 2019 | 8 | 1993, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024 |
| Sonoma State | 3 | 2001, 2002, 2006 | 8 | 1988, 1989, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013 |
| Stanford | 3 | 1982, 2013, 2015 | 3 | 1980, 2002, 2011 |
| Arizona | 1 | 1990 | 8 | 1983, 1985, 1992, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 |
| Chapman | 1 | 2008 | 1 | 1996 |
| UC Los Angeles | | | 1 | 1982 |
| San Diego State | | | 1 | 1984 |
| UC San Diego | | | 1 | 1994 |
| Arizona State | | | 1 | 2008 |
| Santa Clara | | | 1 | 2019 |
* Note: Bold text denotes MCLA National Champion
* Note: Italic text denotes MCLA National Champion runner-up

### Division II

Division II Champions :
| Season | Conference Champion | Score | Runner-up |
| 1988 | Chico State | | |
| 1989 | Chico State | 24-4 | Humboldt State |
| 1990 | Cal Poly | | |
| 1991 | Saint Mary's | | |
| 1992 | Chapman | 12-4 | Cal Poly |
| 1993 | UC Santa Cruz | | Arizona State |
| 1994 | UC Irvine | 6-4 | Loyola Marymount |
| 1995 | Arizona State | 10-5 | UC Irvine |
| 1996 | Sacramento State | 10-6 | Cal Poly |
| 1997 | Arizona State | 9-4 | Cal Poly |
| 1998 | San Diego | 11-3 | UC San Diego |
| 1999 | San Diego | 8-7 | Chico State |
| 2000 | Saint Mary's | 11-6 | Claremont |
| 2001 | Chapman | 11-10 | Saint Mary's |
| 2002 | Southern California | 10-6 | Saint Mary's |
| 2003 | Claremont | 12-5 | Saint Mary's |
| 2004 | San Diego | 11-8 | Saint Mary's |
| 2005 | San Diego | 12-4 | Claremont |
| 2006 | San Diego | 14-6 | Claremont |
| 2007 | UC Irvine | 11-10 | Pepperdine |
| 2008 | Biola (Vacated)* | 15-3 | UC Santa Cruz |
| 2009 | UC Santa Cruz | 12-11 | Saint Mary's |
| 2010 | Saint Mary's | 9-5 | UC Santa Cruz |
| 2011 | Saint Mary's | 8-7 | UC Santa Cruz |
| 2012 | Saint Mary's | 16-5 | UC Santa Cruz |
| 2013 | UC Santa Cruz | 9-6 | Nevada |
| 2014 | Nevada | 5-4 | San José State |
| 2015 | Sierra Nevada | 14-6 | Nevada |
| 2016 | Sierra Nevada | 18-3 | UC Davis |
| 2017 | Sierra Nevada | 13-4 | UC Davis |
| 2018 | Sierra Nevada | 7-4 | UC Davis |
| 2019 | UC Davis | 11-2 | Saint Mary's |
| 2020 | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic | No Championship due to Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2022 | UC Davis | 10-6 | UC Santa Cruz |
| 2023 | UC Davis | 8-6 | Chico State |
| 2024 | Chico State | 10-7 | Saint Mary’s |
*Despite winning the championship game, Biola were made to forfeit the title because they fielded ineligible players
Division II Records :
| Team | Championships | Winning years | Runner-up | Runner-up Years |
| San Diego | 5 | 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006 | | |
| Saint Mary's | 5 | 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012 | 7 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2019, 2024 |
| Sierra Nevada | 4 | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 3 | 1993, 2009, 2013 | 5 | 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2022 |
| UC Davis | 3 | 2019, 2022, 2023 | 3 | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Chico State | 3 | 1988, 1989, 2024 | 2 | 1999, 2023 |
| Arizona State | 2 | 1995, 1997 | 1 | 1993 |
| Chapman | 2 | 1992, 2001 | | |
| UC Irvine | 2 | 1994, 2007 | 1 | 1995 |
| Cal Poly | 1 | 1990 | 3 | 1992, 1996, 1997 |
| Sacramento State | 1 | 1996 | | |
| Southern California | 1 | 2002 | | |
| Claremont | 1 | 2003 | 3 | 2000, 2005, 2006 |
| Nevada | 1 | 2014 | 2 | 2013, 2015 |
| Cal Poly Humboldt | | | 1 | 1989 |
| Loyola Marymount | | | 1 | 1994 |
| UC San Diego | | | 1 | 1998 |
| Pepperdine | | | 1 | 2007 |
| San José State | | | 1 | 2014 |
| Biola | | 2008* | | |
* Note: Bold text denotes MCLA National Champion