SAN BRUNO, Calif. – On Thursday, the West Coast Conference announced the addition of the University of California, Davis as an affiliate member in beach volleyball and men's water polo. 
 
UC Davis will join the West Coast Conference in both sports beginning with the 2026-27 academic year to coincide with the school's move to the Mountain West. 

"The addition of UC Davis as an affiliate member in beach volleyball and men's water polo will bolster the West Coast Conference's competitive excellence in both sports and expand our footprint in the state of California, where each sport has the strongest presence," said West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson. "We are a premier league with multiple nationally ranked teams and national title contenders, including a Beach Volleyball NCAA Finalist last year with LMU. UC Davis' investment in each program has positioned the Aggies to compete at a high level, and we look forward to welcoming them to West Coast Conference competition beginning with the 2026-27 academic year."
 
The addition of UC Davis in men's water polo gives the West Coast Conference seven teams for the 2026 season. Along with LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, and Santa Clara, and the addition of UC Davis, the conference will have affiliate members Air Force and San Jose State in the 2026-27 academic year. California Baptist will depart following the 2025 season. The Aggies finished the 2024 season ranked No. 14 nationally, advancing to the semifinals of the Big West Tournament.

Throughout its history, UC Davis men's water polo has been one of the most successful programs for the Aggies, appearing in the NCAA National Championships seven times, most recently in the 2022 season. In 2021, the team had its highest-ever finish at No. 5 in the country while making an appearance in the NCAA Semifinals for the first time.

Last October, Schaal Aquatics Center, the Aggies' home pool, was selected to host the 2027 NCAA Men's Water Polo National Championships, marking the third time in its history that the venue was selected for national competition.
 
UC Davis will become the eighth team in beach volleyball, along with 2025 NCAA Finalist LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. UC Davis, which first began sponsoring the sport in 2019, has posted at least 18 wins in each of its last three seasons.  

"We are incredibly grateful to Commissioner Stu Jackson and the West Coast Conference for welcoming UC Davis as an affiliate member in men's water polo and beach volleyball," said UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca. "Joining the WCC provides our student-athletes in these two sports with a tremendous opportunity to compete at a high level and continue building programs that reflect the excellence of UC Davis. We deeply appreciate the Conference's support and partnership as we work to elevate these teams and provide them with the platform to achieve sustained success."
 
About the West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has evolved and grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics. The West Coast Conference is fueled by the conviction to achieve its goals with strong core values of integrity, respect, collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness that create a holistic student-athlete experience. The conference sponsors 16 sports with a three-state footprint that includes Gonzaga, LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Seattle. We Create Champions on the field of competition and leaders in life.