UC San Diego moving to WCC
Credit: WCC
UC San Diego announced its plans to move to the West Coast Conference (WCC) in 2027.
CBS Sports college basketball writer Jon Rothstein reported the news on September 2. According to Rothstein, the WCC is adding the Tritons so it can remain a viable college basketball conference. Three teams have announced their departures from the WCC after the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year.
Source: UC San Diego is finalizing details to join the WCC for the 2027-28 season.
A quality addition for the conference as it transitions post-Gonzaga.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 2, 2025
Those three teams are Gonzaga, Oregon State, and Washington State. All three teams have committed to join the revamped Pac-12, which will also include the San Diego State Aztecs. After their departure, the WCC will have only nine teams.
The Tritons will bring their up-and-coming men’s basketball program to a strong mid-major conference. Even after Gonzaga’s departure, the WCC will still have St. Mary’s College. UC San Diego will bring 14 programs total to the conference. It is still seeking conference affiliation for its other 10.
The WCC will carry 10 teams once UC San Diego’s addition is complete. It will carry just nine teams for the 2026-27 academic year. It will operate with 12 teams until the end of the current year.
“We continually identify valuable opportunities to expand our membership, and the addition of UC San Diego greatly aligns with the goals of the West Coast Conference,” WCC commissioner Stu Jackson said in a news release. “UC San Diego’s meteoric rise during its recent NCAA Division I transition is the result of strong leadership, strategic investment, and deliberate planning for postseason success.”
The WCC will continue to carry programs from every major media market on the West Coast. This includes San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. The Tritons will share the conference with the San Diego Toreros.
UC San Diego will officially join the WCC on July 1, 2027.
Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.