Grand Canyon University announced Friday that it has accepted an invitation to join the West Coast Conference, starting in July 2025.
GCU has been in the Western Athletic Conference since 2013. Its men’s basketball team has won three of the past four men's conference championships.
The change means its basketball players will take on more notable teams like Gonzaga. It also provides increased television exposure, lower travel costs and less travel time for student-athletes.
The WCC consists of private, faith-based and service-oriented institutions in California, Oregon and Washington.
GCU will join nine existing members: Gonzaga, LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Saint Mary’s, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Clara. Joining GCU in transitioning from the WAC to the WCC on the same timeline is Seattle U.
In a press release, GCU President Brian Mueller wrote: “We are incredibly excited for this next opportunity to join the WCC, which is one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences as well as one of the premier basketball conferences in the country.”
