Grand Canyon officially joining Mountain West - ESPN

Grand Canyon will join the Mountain West Conference by at least 2026, the school and conference announced Friday.

The decision comes six months after GCU announced it would join the West Coast Conference in 2025.

«We want to best position ourselves to be nationally competitive, and we are excited about the vision and future of the Mountain West,» GU athletic director Jamie Boggs said in a statement. «We are joining a conference that has enjoyed national success, has developed a rich tradition in its 26 years and has financially positioned us for competitive success in this changing collegiate landscape. We are eager to compete for championships with our future peers in the Mountain West.»

GCU will compete in 17 conference-sponsored sports, most notably men's basketball. The Antelopes have qualified for the past three NCAA men's basketball tournaments, the most recent of which included a first-round upset of fifth-seeded Saint Mary's.

«Grand Canyon is a tremendous addition to the Mountain West. We are excited to expand our footprint into the City of Phoenix and the State of Arizona,» MW commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement. «Grand Canyon has been on an upward trajectory both academically and athletically for the past decade, and its addition to the league will enhance the competition across the Mountain West as we strive to earn NCAA postseason bids and compete for national championships.»

The MW began targeting GCU for expansion after five of its members — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State — announced they were leaving for the Pac-12 earlier this year.

GCU's decision was not well received by the WCC, which announced in May that GCU — along with Seattle — would join the