The participating teams come from colleges and universities in the Upper Midwest, including North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The remaining two teams to qualify (8 total) do so via league-only KRACH Rankings, which include all games between WCCHA opponents (divisional and interdivisional).

Since the 2016-2017 season, the winner of the Carla Berg Cup Championship earns the automatic bid to the ACHA D2 Central Regional Tournament.

^associate member for 2018–2019 season The Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association was formed in March 2003 at the initial league meeting at Coffman Memorial Union on the campus of the Minnesota-Minneapolis.

From 2004-2009, the WCCHA Tournament was held at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St.

In 2010, the tournament moved to the neutral venue Schwan Super Rink at the National Sports Center.

From 2003–2017, the WCCHA regular season included a full, single table schedule with every member playing each other twice.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a majority of teams excluded from travel/competition, the league cancelled the 2020-2021 conference season.