The Golden Coast Conference (GCC) will expand to 10 teams in women’s water polo from the 2026–27 season, with UC Davis and San José State University confirmed as the league’s newest members.
In the U.S. university sports system, teams compete in conferences—regional or competitive groupings of schools that organise regular-season play and championships. For women’s water polo, these conferences sit within the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), the governing body for most U.S. university sports. Changing conferences can mean different rivals, travel schedules, and championship pathways.
The two California programs will join existing GCC members Azusa Pacific, California Baptist, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, Pacific, San Diego State, and Santa Clara—further strengthening what is already one of the NCAA’s most competitive women’s water polo leagues.
UC Davis: Rising Big West Force
UC Davis currently competes in the Big West Conference, a California-based NCAA conference for women’s water polo. The Aggies arrive in the GCC with strong recent form: in 2025, they earned five Big West postseason awards and placed a school-record 18 players on the ACWPC All-Academic Team. Sophomore Chelsea Johnson also represented Australia at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Championships.
UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca said the move “provides our women’s water polo program with a strong competitive home” and offers opportunities to build new rivalries in the GCC.
San José State: Proven National Pedigree
San José State is currently a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), widely regarded as the most competitive women’s water polo conference in the U.S., featuring several Olympic-level programs. The Spartans bring a decorated history, having ranked in the NCAA top 10 on 20 occasions since the early 2000s. They have produced 22 All-Americans a total of 38 times since 1998 and, last season, placed eight players on the MPSF All-Academic list.
Athletics Director Jeff Konya called the GCC “a competitive and geographic fit” for the Spartans, aligning with the program’s long-term ambitions.
GCC Growth and Competitiveness
Founded in 2014, the Golden Coast Conference has become a consistent force in women’s collegiate water polo, offering a high-level competitive environment outside of the MPSF. GCC Commissioner Dan Smith described the addition of UC Davis and San José State as “a tremendous asset” that will immediately raise the league’s competitive standard.
The 2025–26 season will be the GCC’s 13th, with the expanded 10-team lineup debuting in 2026–27. For fans, the change means more high-profile matchups between California’s top university teams and an even deeper field in the race for the GCC title.