The universities are separated by just eighty miles (130 km) in the Inland Empire, and the series is one of the oldest in the West.

The Cougars dominated the series in the 20th century, with long winning streaks under head coaches Jack Friel, Marv Harshman, and George Raveling.

This trend in the series reflects Gonzaga's ascension from a mid-major program to a perennially ranked powerhouse, making trips to the NCAA tournament every year in the 2000s and 2010s.

[5] With the collapse of the Pac-12 Conference after the 2023–24 season, Washington State basketball joined the WCC as an associate member, renewing the dormant rivalry.

[8] Gonzaga has appeared in two national championship games since the Cougars and Bulldogs last faced off, falling to North Carolina in 2017 and Baylor in 2021.