DAVIS, Calif. - With UC Davis set to make the move to the Mountain West Conference for the 2026-27 season, the Aggies warmly welcomed onto campus this past week Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, giving her an opportunity to connect with student-athletes, coaches and staff as well as tour the campus and city of Davis.

"It was an honor to welcome Commissioner Nevarez to Davis and showcase the people and values that define UC Davis Athletics," said Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca. "Her visit affirmed how aligned we are with the Mountain West's mission and vision for the future of college athletics. This is a place where excellence, humility, and community matter—and we're excited for what's ahead as we prepare to officially join the conference in 2026."

Touching down Thursday, May 15, Nevarez's first order of business was opening the baseball game against CSUN as she threw the ceremonial first pitch straight over home plate. The next inning, she joined the broadcast team in the booth, sharing with fans on the stream a few insights into the values and expectations that come with joining the Mountain West. The interview took a break in the bottom of the second inning as Gloria called a two-run homer by third baseman Korey Williams.

"This was my first time on UC Davis' campus in a long time," Nevarez expressed, "Davis has always been high on our list because they look a lot like us. The shared values, educating young people in higher education through sport, the grittiness, the emphasis on the student in student-athlete, yet still being competitive at the highest level."

The next day, Nevarez spent her morning sitting down with UC Davis Chancellor Gary May prior to touring the athletic facilities and getting familiar with the university at large, escorted by DeLuca and women's basketball head coach Jennifer Gross.

We saved the best for last as Gloria Navarez wrapped up the day by speaking with the heartbeat of the athletic department – our people. She first hosted the head coaches of future Mountain West programs to talk through the evolving landscape of college athletics before joining in on a department-wide staff meeting to speak to the role of the Mountain West in the greater NCAA. The day culminated with a meet-and-greet with Aggie student-athletes, where they had the opportunity to share their excitement for the transition and what that means for their individual programs.

"The thing that really resonated with me the most is how much everyone said they appreciated the culture here," Nevarez said. "Having each other's backs, being a big family, you could tell that it wasn't just a cliche, it's really part of who the Aggies are."

With just one season remaining in the Big West before the transition to the Mountain West, the entire Aggie family looks forward to many more visits from Nevarez and the conference staff when UC Davis officially gains membership on July 1, 2026.

This story is an example of UC Davis Athletics' commitment to the Ignite Strategic Plan Pillar of "Competitive Excellence" by maintaining UC Davis Athletics' relevance on the national stage during an ever-changing college landscape by continuing to strengthen its partnership with the Mountain West Conference. Read more about our strategic plan here; IGNITE.