NOTE: The following press release was originally published by the West Coast Conference, with quotes from the University of Portland added later. You can find the original release at wccsports.com or by clicking the link here.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference Presidents' Council has approved the addition of Grand Canyon University and Seattle University as Conference members.
 
Grand Canyon and Seattle accepted offers from the WCC earlier today and will officially become the 10th and 11th full-time members of the Conference on July 1, 2025.
 
"The WCC Presidents' Council is deliberate in its effort to position the West Coast Conference as one of the premier NCAA Division I conferences in the nation, and the addition of Grand Canyon University and Seattle University bolsters the membership, enhances the profile of competitive excellence and expands the conference footprint into two major cities in the Western region," WCC Commissioner Stu Jackson said. "The WCC has a storied history of competitive prowess on the national level, and the addition of Grand Canyon and Seattle will further enrich the Conference's national visibility. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller, Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs; and Seattle University President Eduardo Peñalver and Director of Athletics Shaney Fink as we stabilize and position the West Coast Conference for the future."
 
Grand Canyon and Seattle will compete in 14 of the WCC's 16 sponsored sports beginning with the 2025-26 seasons. Both institutions sponsor men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's golf, women's golf, men's cross country and women's cross country; while Grand Canyon will compete in the WCC in beach volleyball and Seattle will compete in the Conference in rowing.
  
The additions of Grand Canyon and Seattle expand the WCC to 11 full-time members, marking the greatest number of full-time member institutions in the 71-year history of the Conference. With Grand Canyon joining the WCC, the Conference footprint will expand to the state of Arizona for the first time in its history. The WCC footprint, which already includes the No. 2 (Los Angeles) and No. 10 (San Francisco Bay Area) media markets in the nation, will now also include the No. 11 and No. 13 media markets in Phoenix and Seattle, respectively.   
 
Oregon State and Washington State will join the WCC as affiliate members across 12 sports for two years, beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. Air Force, California Baptist and San Jose State compete as affiliate members in men's water polo, while Creighton competes as an affiliate member in rowing. 
 
The additions of GCU and Seattle, along with the affiliate membership of Oregon State, Washington State, Air Force, California Baptist San Jose State and Creighton in select sports, gives the Conference 13 teams in men's basketball, women's basketball, women's soccer, volleyball and women's cross country; 12 teams in men's golf; 11 teams in men's soccer and women's tennis; 10 teams in men's tennis; nine teams in rowing and men's cross country; and eight teams in beach volleyball, softball and women's golf during the 2025-26 academic year.


"Thank you to West Coast Conference Conference Stu Jackson and the WCC Presidents' Council for their excellent work on expansion in recent weeks and months," University of Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said. "It is imperative to both the short- and long-term stability of our conference to add institutions that increase our men's basketball profile. It was also becoming more and more apparent that having only nine full-time members was not a sustainable long-term model for the WCC."

 "Throughout this period of conference realignment, our goal has always been to promote the wellbeing of our student-athletes and ensure that they continue to compete at the highest level in a strong and stable conference," said University of Portland President Robert D. Kelly, PhD. "Today's news, paired with our introduction of Oregon State University and Washington State University as affiliate members, enhances the West Coast Conference's position as one of the country's elite conferences. I thank WCC Commissioner Stu Jackson and Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam for the expertise and leadership they have provided throughout this process, and I look forward to a bright future for the WCC and Pilot Athletics."

First established in 1949, Grand Canyon University has grown exponentially within the Phoenix market and is a well-recognized institution on a national level. A member of the Western Athletic Conference the past 11 years, GCU has captured 66 conference championships and won the WAC Commissioner's Cup each of the last five fully completed academic years. The men's basketball program has earned an NCAA Tournament berth each of the last two years and finished the 2023-24 season with 30 wins and a top-50 NET ranking.
  
Seattle was previously a member of the Conference under its former name, the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) from 1971-80. Since its return to NCAA Division I in 2008, Seattle, has earned 65 conference championships. The Redhawks have been a member of the Western Athletic Conference since 2012, where they most recently won titles in men's soccer and women's golf. The men's soccer program was ranked No. 9 nationally during the 2023 season. Men's basketball has achieved three consecutive 20-win seasons from 2022-24, including 23 wins and the College Basketball Invitational championship this past season.
      
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 WCC 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 across the Conference. Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, the WCC's membership will include Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, LMU, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Seattle. The Conference sponsors 16 sports. In the WCC, We Create Champions on the field of competition and leaders in life. For more information, visit WCCsports.com and follow the WCC on X, Instagram, and Facebook @WCCsports.