Using an exceptionally strong spring season, Azusa Pacific zoomed to the top of the Pacific West Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings, capturing the title for the third straight time.

The Cougars tallied 12.54 points, using PacWest spring titles in men’s tennis, women’s track and field, and men’s track and field, along with second place standings in women’s tennis and baseball and a third place showing in softball. Combined with a women’s basketball title and runner-up finishes in men’s cross country, women’s cross country and men’s basketball, APU moved into the top spot in the final point tally.

It was Azusa Pacific’s third Commissioner’s Cup, after winning their first in 2018-19. They finished in second place for five straight years prior to that. They have won the last three (there were no Cups in 2020 or 2021 because of Covid shortened schedules).

Very impressively, PacWest first-place trophies were handed out to nearly every school in the conference. For just the second time, nine of the eleven schools in the league won at least one PacWest championship (2022 was the other year).

The PacWest Commissioner's Cup was established in 2007-08 to honor the athletic program with the best overall performance in that academic year. The competition is based upon average finish in PacWest sports that the conference offers. Each school's points are totaled and then divided by the number of PacWest athletic programs it offers, giving an overall average finish for the school.

Point Loma finished second, equaling their highest finish (2019) since joining the conference in 2012-13.  The Sea Lions won conference titles in men’s basketball and baseball, and grabbed the second rung (or tied for) in men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball and women’s golf. They consistently racked up points by finishing third in women’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis. Their average point total of 11.59 is their highest score in their 11 years in the conference.

Concordia placed third for the fourth time in the last five tallies. The Golden Eagles won the PacWest softball crown and compiled double-digit points by placing third (or tying for third) in women’s cross country, women’s soccer, women’s basketball and women’s tennis. They tallied an average score of 10.08, their highest since joining the conference in 2015-16. Biola, who led the Commissioner’s Cup standings after the Fall seasons, placed fourth with PacWest titles in men’s and women’s cross country and men’s soccer. They were second in softball and third in women’s golf and women’s track and field for an average score of 9.93.

Fresno Pacific placed fifth for the second time in the last three competitions, their highest placing. The Sunbirds were second in women’s track and field, tied for second in volleyball and placed third in men’s cross country and baseball for an average of 7.96 points. Hawai`i Pacific was the sixth place finisher, their highest standing since 2017. They picked up big points in the spring with a women’s tennis title, a second place trophy in men’s tennis and a fourth place ranking in softball for 7.54 points.

Hawai`i Hilo, who won conference titles in women’s soccer and men’s golf, finished seventh with 7.13 points. Dominican shared the men’s soccer title and was second in women’s basketball and men’s golf to help tally 6.42 points for eighth place. Academy of Art (third in men’s basketball and men’s track and field) was next with 5.39 points, followed by Chaminade (volleyball title) with 5.25 and Holy Names (women’s golf championship) with 5.04.

Azusa Pacific, with its third Commissioner’s Cup crown, moves into second place all-time by passing Hawai`i Pacific, who has two. California Baptist is the career leader with six.