Grand Canyon officially joining Mountain West

Grand Canyon University will be joining the Mountain West Conference by 2026, after initially planning to join the West Coast Conference in 2025. The school’s athletic director expressed excitement about the move, citing the conference’s national success and financial stability. GCU will compete in 17 conference-sponsored sports, with a strong focus on men’s basketball. The MW commissioner welcomed GCU, highlighting the school’s academic and athletic growth. The decision was met with disappointment by the WCC, which saw it as a missed opportunity for GCU to join a premier basketball conference. The WCC is now evaluating expansion and alliance opportunities. GCU’s move comes after several MW members announced their departure for the Pac-12.