PULLMAN, Wash. — The Washington State men’s basketball team will face the Seattle U Redhawks, Saturday, December 19 in the Seattle Holiday Classic at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, Total Sports Consulting (TSC) announced Monday.
The Cougars will face Seattle U in the first half of a doubleheader showcase, which also features Washington facing Baylor in the second half of the showcase event.
"We're looking forward to getting back to Seattle and bringing Cougar basketball to the thousands of WSU alumni in western Washington,” WSU Head Coach David Riley said. “I believe playing the other Division-I teams in the state is an important part of developing the game and honoring its history in the Pacific Northwest. We look forward to facing the Redhawks at Climate Pledge Arena and welcoming Coug fans to the Seattle Holiday Classic!"
Tickets for the Seattle Holiday Classic will go on sale Wednesday, August 19 through Ticketmaster and the Climate Pledge Arena Box Office. One ticket will provide admission to both games. Fans will also have access to premium courtside seating, luxury suites, hospitality experiences, club seating and discounted group ticket packages.
The Washington State Cougars enter the 2026-27 season with a reloaded roster in a hyper-competitive and revitalized Pac-12 Conference. Under third-year head coach David Riley, WSU brings a pro-style offensive system with a blur of stretch positions to offer mismatches and scoring opportunities. WSU's rebuilt roster includes Sebastian Akins, the 2025 Summit League Freshman of the Year, and Lazerek Houston, a high-scoring Division-II Conference Player of the Year from Central Missouri. Small forward and Oregon transfer Jamari Phillips will feature in the Cougar wing alongside recently-signed French center Mohamed Sankhe and Northwestern transfer Tyler Kropp.
“We are thrilled to bring the Seattle Holiday Classic to Climate Pledge Arena and welcome these outstanding programs to Seattle,” said Total Sports Consulting President Dan Shell. “This event is a great opportunity to showcase college basketball in one of the country’s premier venues and create a special holiday experience for the teams, fans and the Seattle community.”
Last season, WSU and Seattle U faced each other for the first time in the Emerald City in 48 years, competing as conference foes in the West Coast Conference. The teams split the home-and-home series with each team winning at home.