Washington College Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Huskies

The University of Washington was established in Seattle in 1861. The Huskies nickname was chosen by students in 1922 to replace an earlier moniker of Sun Dodgers. Washington were members of the Pac-10/Pac-12 Conference for many decades until departing for the Big Ten in 2024.

The Huskies claim two national championships in (American) Football, in 1960 and 1991, whilst their women's rowing teams won five national crowns between 1997 and 2019.

Answer: Pirates

Whitworth University was founded in Sumner, Pierce County, in 1883. The school relocated to Tacoma in 1899 before finding a permanent home in Spokane in 1914. The Pirates nickname was chosen by students in 1926. Whitworth is a member of the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.

Answer: Falcons

Seattle Pacific University was established in 1891 as Seattle Seminary, adopting its current name in 1915. The school's nickname is Falcons, and they have a mascot called "Talon". They are members of the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and have won Division II national crowns in both men's and women's soccer.

Answer: Redhawks

Seattle University was established in the largest city in Washington in 1891. The school was nicknamed the Chieftains until 2000 when Redhawks was adopted, along with a mascot called Rudy. Seattle University were members of the Western Athletic Conference until 2025, when they joined the West Coast Conference.

Their men's basketball squad were runners-up to Kentucky in the 1958 NCAA Championship, and famously became one of the few teams to defeat the Harlem Globetrotters, in 1952.

Answer: Loggers

The University of Puget Sound was established in Tacoma in 1888. Formerly known as the Grizzlies, the school adopted Loggers as its nickname in 1923, and they are the only NCAA school with that particular nickname. The Loggers are members of the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.

Their women's cross-country squad were Division III national champions in four straight years from 1992-95.

Answer: Cougars

Washington State University (WSU) was established in 1890 in Pullman, Whitman County. The school's Cougars nickname was adopted in 1919 after a newspaper cartoonist described them as "fierce Northwest cougars". WSU are members of the Pac-12 Conference, with their only official NCAA title coming in indoor track & field in 1977.

Answer: Bulldogs

Gonzaga University was established in 1887 in Spokane, and is named after a 16th century Italian saint, Aloysius Gonzaga. The Bulldogs nickname, one of the most common in US college sports, was adopted in 1921, replacing their original moniker of Fighting Irish. Gonzaga were members of the West Coast Conference before moving to the Pac-12 in 2026.

The school has had a strong repuation in basketball, with their men's squads being NCAA runners-up in both 2017 and 2021. The Bulldogs haven't fielded a gridiron team since 1941.

Answer: Wildcats

Central Washington University (CWU) was established in 1891 in Ellensburg, Kittitas County. The school's Wildcats nickname is one of the most common in US college sports. CWU are members of the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Previously an NAIA school, their gridiron team won the Division II national title at that level in 1995.

Answer: Eagles

Eastern Washington University (EWU) was founded in 1882 in Cheney, Spokane County. The school was originally nicknamed Savages, but students voted in 1973 to change their moniker to Eagles, the same nickname as the Philadelphia NFL team. EWU are members of the Big Sky Conference. In 2010, their gridiron squad won the NCAA FCS national title, defeating Delaware in the championship game.

Answer: Vikings

Western Washington University (WWU) was founded in 1886 in Bellingham, Whatcom County, and is the northernmost college in the contiguous USA. The school's Vikings moniker alludes to the large Scandinavian population of the area at the time. WWU are members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Their most successful teams have come in women's rowing, with seven consecutive Division II national crowns being won from 2005-11.