Grand Canyon joins Mountain West and will not compete in West Coast Conference after accepting invitation

Grand Canyon is joining the Mountain West through 2026, declining its previous commitment to the West Coast Conference, the university announced Friday. The move took place just a few months later The GCU accepted an invitation from the WCC and announced that he would leave the WAC in 2025.

Although Mountain West said the move would take effect by 2026, Grand Canyon said it could join as early as 2025 “if permitted by the conference's bylaws.” In its announcement of the move, Grand Canyon made it clear that it will not be participating in the WCC.

“By joining the Mountain West Conference, GCU has officially declined an invitation from the West Coast Conference that would have resulted in the Lopes becoming WCC members on July 1, 2025,” Grand Canyon’s announcement said

Grand Canyon has become one of the strongest mid-major basketball programs in the country over the last four years under coach Bryce Drew, reaching three of the last four NCAA Tournaments and even making it to the second round last season after winning the first round over No. 5 seeds Saint Mary's.

While the move raises the Mountain West's profile in basketball and other sports, Grand Canyon does not play football, meaning the league still only has eight football-playing members. While that number is enough for the league to operate under Division I rules, the Mountain West is still looking for at least one more football-playing member.

The move is another blow to the WCC Gonzaga lose to the Pac-12 in 2026 amid a chaotic wave of realignment.