Davis, Calif. - UC Davis has accepted an invitation to join Pac-12 women's lacrosse as an affiliate member no later than the 2023-24 season.
San Diego State will also join the Aggies as affiliate members following a recommendation by the Pac-12 Council and approval by the Pac-12 Board of Directors at a recent meeting.
"We are overjoyed at the invitation to join this prestigious conference as an affiliate member," UC Davis Head Coach
Suzanne Isidor said. "I would like to thank the Pac-12 administrators and coaches who recognized the competitive value in adding UC Davis and San Diego State, and our own administration for championing this important step in the future of our program. In addition to that, I am excited for what this means for the growth of the game in the west."
UC Davis played without a conference in 2022 after the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation dropped lacrosse as a sponsored sport following the 2021 season. The Aggies faced five Pac-12 opponents in 2022, posting wins over Cal and Oregon while also going 1-1 against San Diego State.
The Aggies won the MPSF Championship in 2021, the first in school history, by defeating Fresno State 23-13.
Maddie Myers was the conference player of the year that season. All told, 12 student-athletes have earned 18 all-conference honors under Isidor, who will enter her sixth season in 2023.
"Coach Isidor has taken our lacrosse program to the next level repeatedly showing that we can compete successfully against top programs across the country," UC Davis Athletic Director
Rocko DeLuca said. "The Pac-12 administration, athletic directors and coaches recognize the strength brought on by affiliate membership and its importance to growing women's lacrosse on the west coast. We thank them for their partnership and look forward to starting no later than the 2023 season together."
Isidor's five-year tenure at UC Davis has seen 57 MPSF All-Academic Team honors, including 20 following that 2021 campaign.
"We are excited to have UC Davis and San Diego State join Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse as affiliate members," said Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner Teresa Gould. "Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse continues to grow and develop nationally, and we are very pleased to bring two great programs into the fold and expand to eight teams beginning no later than the 2023 season."
Determinations as to scheduling, Pac-12 Tournament bracket methodology and additional matters impacted by the addition of UC Davis and San Diego State remain to be discussed and will be made in due course.
