PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University Athletics and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have announced a historic new partnership grounded in shared values of community, culture, and a commitment to developing future generations of leaders.
Under the five-year agreement, the largest annual sponsorship in WSU Athletics history, all Cougar uniforms will feature a Colville Tribe jersey patch. The initiative represents one of the most comprehensive uniform recognitions in college athletics and a first of its kind within the Pac-12.
“At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief in investing in young people, helping them become exceptional students, future leaders, and ultimately bringing them back home to strengthen the communities they love,” WSU President Betsy Cantwell said Tuesday. “That alignment of values is what made the Colville Tribes the right partner for this historic opportunity.”
The partnership brings the 12 Tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, who have lived since time immemorial in the lands known today as eastern Washington, together with the state’s land-grant university. It builds on a longstanding relationship first formalized in 1997 and rooted in more than a century of shared commitment to this region’s diverse and evolving needs.
The Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Jarred-Michael Erickson, said, “The Colville Tribes has partnered with WSU for decades now on a variety of topics related to education and culture. We are pleased to continue our partnership with this new and historic involvement in WSU’s athletic program. Athletics instill character, and that is an important quality for Colville. There are multiple aspects to this deal, but I am sure our membership will especially enjoy seeing a Colville Tribes patch on WSU jerseys. Go Cougs!”
The $8.43 million agreement includes a $250,000 donation to the Cougar Athletic Excellence Fund in year one. It extends beyond sporting competition to include youth clinics in tribal communities, regional basketball development opportunities, and an AAU tribal tournament. A dedicated video series will highlight the connections between WSU student-athletes and tribal youth, creating greater visibility and shared understanding.
Additional elements include Colville Tribes entitlement games across multiple sports, special Nike N7 games for men’s and women’s basketball, and prominent integration across WSU Athletics platforms and game-day experiences.
“This is a historic partnership rooted in Eastern Washington,” said WSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow. “It brings together two tradition-rich communities as we chart an exciting new path forward as leaders in the Pacific Northwest and the new Pac-12.”
This deal was brokered in collaboration with Playfly Sports, the sports industry’s leading revenue maximization company. Playfly serves as WSU’s multimedia rights partner.
The Tuesday announcement can be viewed on the WSU Athletics YouTube channel.
Media Contacts
- Bobby Alworth, WSU Athletics, 509-335-5785, bobby.alworth@wsu.edu
- Neeka Somday, Colville Tribes, 509-634-2213, neeka.somday@colvilletribes.com
- Danaé Joumard, Playfly Sports, danae.joumard@playfly.com
