WSU is set to face the No. 19 Oregon Ducks this Wednesday in Beasley Coliseum to settle their postponed game from earlier this season. The two teams were originally scheduled to play on Jan. 23 in Pullman.

This will be the 45th matchup between the Cougs and Ducks. In their last battle, WSU lost to the Ducks, 58-50 in Eugene, Ore.

The Cougars are currently ranked fourth in the Pac-12 with a 6-4 conference record. WSU is one game behind Arizona and Oregon. With a win, WSU has the opportunity to tie the Arizona Wildcats and Oregon Ducks for second in the Pac-12. 

The Cougs are coming back from a 1-1 weekend away from Pullman. WSU began the trip with a win against Colorado, 63-56. They then lost in a close matchup against the Utes. Despite the loss, the Cougars seem to be performing better in recent games.

Players such as Johanna Teder and Ula Motuga are scoring when needed, and the team is playing well on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. 

Charlisse Leger-Walker provided the Cougs with an electric performance against Colorado, putting up 30 points in the win. The 30-point outing is Leger-Walker’s career-high at WSU. 

Leger-Walker is the first Cougar to score 30 points in a game since Borislava Hristova scored 32 points against Cal on Jan. 31, 2020. Leger-Walker is now second in the Pac-12 for points per game, averaging 17.2 ppg. 

The Oregon Ducks picked up their stride in January, collecting top-10 wins against then-ranked No. 7 Arizona and then-ranked No. 9 UConn. The Ducks were perfect in the month of January until last weekend in a rematch against now-ranked No. 8 Arizona, 63-48. The Ducks continued their misfortunes against Arizona State, losing 55-49. 

Nyara Sabally is the leader for Oregon in points per game, averaging 16.7 ppg. Sabally’s ability to sink baskets ranks her fourth in the Pac-12 for ppg. 

The rematch will be a pivotal game for both teams regarding Pac-12 standings and tournament play.