Three UC Davis teams have announced plans to move to new conferences: Beach volleyball and men’s water polo will join the the West Coast Conference as affiliate members, while women’s water polo will join the Golden Coast Conference.

Both moves take effect in the 2026-27 academic year, coinciding with a move by most other sports to the Mountain West Conference. Football, equestrian, field hockey and lacrosse are the only sports that will not change conferences.

West Coast Conference

Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca expressed gratitude for the beach volleyball and men’s water polo moves to the West Coast Conference, or WCC.

“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,” DeLuca said. “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.”

The addition of UC Davis in men's water polo gives the West Coast Conference seven teams for the 2026 season. Along with Loyola Marymount, 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 Loyola Marymount, 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.  

Golden Coast Conference

DeLuca also praised the women’s water polo move to the Golden Coast Conference, or GCC.

“We're excited to join the Golden Coast Conference and appreciate Commissioner Dan Smith and the Board for extending this invitation,” DeLuca said. “This move provides our women's water polo program with a strong competitive home and aligns us with institutions that share our commitment to the sport's future. We look forward to building new rivalries and contributing to the continued success of the GCC.”

Current members of the GCC include Azusa Pacific, California Baptist, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, University of the Pacific, San Diego State, and Santa Clara. This move strengthens the GCC's position as one of the top women's water polo leagues in the NCAA, further enhancing its competitive depth and regional footprint.

Throughout its history, Aggie women's water polo has built a reputation of success in the pool, the classroom, and on the international stage. In 2025 alone, the team earned five Big West postseason awards, 18 players landed on the ACWPC All-Academic team, a school record, and sophomore Chelsea Johnson was selected to compete for her home country of Australia in the 2025 World Aquatics U20 Water Polo Championships.

After finishing last season ranked 16th in the nation and a Big West Conference Tournament appearance, the Aggies are ready to take the program to new heights as they prepare to enter a new era.