The conference was founded in 2002 as a six-team league. Four of the charter members—Loyola Marymount University, Saint Mary's College of California, the University of San Diego, and Santa Clara University—were members of the West Coast Conference. The other two founding members, Portland State University and California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State), were full members of the Big Sky Conference. The conference doubled in size in 2009 (2010 season), with California State University, Bakersfield (Cal State Bakersfield), Idaho State University, the University of Northern Colorado, Seattle University, Utah Valley University, and Weber State University joining.