LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego has accepted a formal invitation to join the West Coast Conference (WCC) beginning July 1, 2027.
“We are excited to join the West Coast Conference, propelling our Triton scholar-athletes to new heights of excellence alongside top-tier teams in a range of sports and advancing our long-term strategic vision,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “This move expands our reach across major West Coast metropolitan areas, amplifying our audience, media coverage and national presence. Plus, we’re excited to compete against cross-town rivals, the University of San Diego Toreros, ensuring that local fans can cheer on our San Diego teams in a variety of sports every year. This milestone elevates our university’s visibility, unlocking new opportunities for Triton students, scholar-athletes and the community – and cementing our reputation as a leader in elite Division I athletics.”
UC San Diego will begin competing in the West Coast Conference beginning in 2027-28. The university remains committed to finding a conference affiliation for its sports that will not compete in the West Coast Conference.
“We continually identify valuable opportunities to expand our membership, and the addition of UC San Diego greatly aligns with the goals of the West Coast Conference,” said West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson. “UC San Diego’s meteoric rise during its recent NCAA Division I transition is the result of strong leadership, strategic investment and deliberate planning for postseason success. The Tritons align with our West Coast identity and serve to strengthen the academic profile of the conference. I appreciate the Presidents’ Council’s thorough evaluation of expansion opportunities and unified direction with the addition of UC San Diego.”
UC San Diego made NCAA history in March, becoming the first program ever to qualify both its men’s and women’s basketball teams for the NCAA Tournament in its first season with Division I postseason eligibility. Twenty of UC San Diego’s 24 sport programs participated in postseason competition this past season, and UC San Diego teams have captured four conference titles since beginning the transition to Division I.
The Tritons began Division I competition in 2020-21 following a successful Division II era spanning 20 years. UC San Diego intercollegiate athletic programs have claimed 30 NCAA national championships in team sports, while 44 have finished as national runners-up and 49 achieved 3rd-place honors. Individually, 138 Triton scholar-athletes have earned national titles.
All the while, UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions. Per the latest federal graduation rate, Triton scholar-athletes graduate at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II.
“At UC San Diego, we aspire to be a destination not just for education, but for innovation, culture, and community impact,” said Earl W. Edwards, Athletic Director Emeritus. “As one of the nation’s leading research institutions, UC San Diego Athletics is committed to competing at the highest level while upholding the values of integrity and leadership that define our vision for the future. Joining the West Coast Conference reflects our commitment to elevating intercollegiate athletics in step with the excellence that defines our campus.”
Beginning in 2027-28, the WCC membership will consist of: University of California San Diego, Loyola Marymount University, University of the Pacific, Pepperdine University, University of Portland, Saint Mary’s College, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Seattle University. UC San Diego will become the first public institution in the West Coast Conference since the departure of the University of Nevada-Reno in 1979.
About UC San Diego
At the University of California San Diego, a culture of risk-taking, collaboration and innovation emerged early on. Established in 1960, UC San Diego has been shaped by exceptional scholars who aren’t afraid to push boundaries, challenge expectations and redefine conventional wisdom in order to make our world better. The only criterion our founders had for their campus was that it must be distinctive – and being experimental has been the norm since day one.
Learn more at www.ucsd.edu.
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