Dear Cougs, 
 
I am thrilled to begin this letter by welcoming our new president, Dr. Elizabeth Cantwell, to Washington State University. On behalf of Cougar Athletics, I am excited about her leadership and the bright future our partnership holds.  
 
Spring has also sprung on the Palouse, making this a wonderful time to celebrate the success of our Cougar student-athletes as they wrap up their winter championships, and to reflect on what lies ahead for Cougar Athletics.  
 
Washington State was proudly represented by three Cougs at this year's NCAA Women's Swimming Championships, highlighted by junior Emily Lundgren earning First-Team All-America honors, WSU's first since 2000. Indoor Track & Field sent four student-athletes to the recent NCAA Championships with senior Micaela De Mello earning First-Team All-America honors. The winter concluded with the men's and women's basketball programs earning their fourth and fifth consecutive postseason appearance, respectively. This success is a testament to the hard work within Cougar Athletics and the support of our alumni, donors, and fans. Because of you, there remains no better collegiate experience than Washington State University. 
 
For you, our fans and supporters, we appreciate all of your feedback and are committed to providing an improved gameday experience. Athletics is exploring avenues to provide greater amenities, from enhanced in-venue food and beverage options to community activities surrounding Cougar Football Saturdays. Additionally, we are navigating the challenge of upgrading in-game elements such as the videoboard, sound system, and lights, and project the costs to exceed $12 million. Though we are committed to this effort, these funds take time to generate and the process comes on the heels of the completion of over $35 million in major facility upgrades. Opened during the 2024-2025 academic year, the Taylor Sports Complex and Champions Center support our 450+ student-athletes on the field and in the classroom. We are working hard to push forward on all fronts and appreciate the historic and ongoing generosity of our donors.  
 
As we look to the future of the Pac-12 Conference, it is imperative that we remain aggressive in our pursuit of excellence. The new Pac-12, adeptly rebuilt by Commissioner Teresa Gould, includes terrific institutions and athletics departments that will push us to be our best. The new membership – comprised of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Utah State – are like-minded in their approach to holistically supporting the student-athlete experience, but also in their will to succeed. This presents an opportunity that must be seized despite the challenges inherent in today's collegiate athletics. The first building block is the new media rights agreement. While negotiations are ongoing, there is optimism that the Pac-12 Conference will attract a valuation that supports Cougar Athletics in the years to come. I'm excited to share updates as they become available. 
 
Moving forward, the resources needed to operate an athletics department continue to rise and Washington State is not immune to those costs. The financial realities of educational funding at both the state and national levels continue to impact our department, but we are fighting to provide support and growth for our student-athletes and programs.  
 
The pending House settlement will establish a new world of student-athlete compensation opportunities and roster construction, both creating new expenses for Athletics to absorb. The proposed settlement introduces roster limits (in place of current scholarship limits) while permitting each institution to directly compensate student-athletes up to $20.5 million for the 2025-2026 academic year. The institutional element of compensation is a landmark change and will allow Cougar Athletics to engage with student-athletes for name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements to pay for promotional activities, campaigns, and external efforts.  
 
In preparation for WSU's post-House reality, we launched "The Next Chapter" campaign in January. This initiative centers on four strategic priorities: student-athlete scholarships; name, image and likeness (NIL); facility enhancements; and student-athlete experience. The Next Chapter provides donors flexibility to contribute directly to areas meaningful to them and impactful to the student-athletes. We are thrilled with the response from our donor base as we have already welcomed more than 750 new Cougar Athletic Fund members from the member challenge. That is a powerful message to our student-athletes that Cougar Nation is investing in their academic and athletic success. 
 
With the collegiate landscape continuing to be very fluid, we are adapting to best situate Cougar Athletics for the future. We will not deviate from our mission of providing a world-class education, ensuring our student-athletes are cared for as students, athletes, and people, leaving Pullman prepared for life after graduation. We are proud of the holistic collegiate experience we deliver to our student-athletes, and that continues to be our north star moving forward. 
 
Make no mistake about it, we will lead the new Pac-12. Our brand is strong, our mission is clear, and we are surrounded by the most proud and loyal fan base in the country. We are committed but that alone can only take us so far.   
 
CAF Members, we are so appreciative of your investment in and support of Cougar Athletics. We would not be where we are today without you, and we are excited to have you by our side as we push forward.  
 
Let's pen the next chapter of WSU Athletics history, together! Go Cougs!! 


Anne McCoy 
Director of Athletics 
Washington State University