LA JOLLA, Calif. – The MPSF announced today that six institutions will join the conference in the upcoming 2026-27 season. UC San Diego joins five other returning schools for conference competition, including CSU Bakersfield, Seattle U, UC Santa Barbara, the University of Denver, and University of San Diego.
 
The MPSF's 2027 swimming & diving championships will feature a total of 24 teams; 16 women and eight men. This will be the largest MPSF championship in their history. The Tritons last competed in the MPSF during the 2023-24 season, wrapping up a stint from 2019-24. Their highest achievement came when UC San Diego women won the MPSF championship in 2022. The following year, Katja Pavicevic set and remains the record-holder for the 200 breaststroke. Current senior Asia Kozan in the Tritons final year of MPSF membership was recognized as the Freshman Swimmer of the Year following four individual event wins at the 2024 championship. The Tritons look forward to the MPSF championship spanning February 17-20, 2027.
 
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"We are proud to welcome these exceptional programs back to the MPSF," says MPSF Commissioner Fort Mellis. "Their rich history in our conference and commitment to excellence will elevate an already outstanding championship experience. We look forward to seeing them compete as part of a record-setting field in 2027."
 
"I want to express my gratitude to MPSF and Commissioner Foti Mellis for opening the door and providing our team with the opportunity to compete in the conference championship, which is eligible for NCAA qualification," said UC San Diego's swimming head coach Marko Djordjevic on returning to the MPSF. "We have cherished memories from MPSF, particularly since our women's team achieved its first-ever UCSD D-I championship in 2022. We are thrilled about the upcoming championship."
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.