The conclusion of the collegiate sports season marked a significant shift for Denver. Their time in the Summit League has come to an end.
In November, DU Athletics announced the switch to the West Coast Conference (WCC). This means an entirely new set of more challenging competition for the Crimson and Gold.
After years of dominance in the Summit League, Denver has taken home 72 Summit League Tournament championships. The only teams that have failed to win it all are men’s and women’s basketball. Denver Swim and Dive are the leading program, taking home 25 titles.
The WCC is largely known for its basketball prowess. In order to stand a chance in the league, DU basketball will need to take a step up. Lucky for them, Gonzaga will be departing the WCC, taking the best team in the conference out of the equation.
That being said, both men’s and women’s teams will be concerned about a lot more than the conference’s top teams. While difficult to compare across conferences, Denver’s performance has been similar to the last place teams: Pepperdine on the men’s side and Seattle University on the women’s.
The WCC also offers a higher level of competition for soccer. However, Denver looks more prepared to compete. The men’s team made a run into the College Cup in 2026, falling just short of the championship game.
Last season, they played a close game with San Diego in August, falling 3-2 to the eventual winners of the WCC regular season title. Later that season, they lost in penalties in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Portland, the second best team in the WCC last season.
Denver women’s soccer team tied 1-1 with Seattle University in August, showing their ability to compete with a top-four team in the WCC.
For already talented Denver soccer teams, the WCC will offer them an opportunity for a bigger stage. Many of their games will be aired on ESPN or CBS and their recruiting pull will be stronger than ever.
The WCC also offers a platform for small-market sports. Volleyball, tennis and golf are all successful programs at DU with the opportunity to grow.
With this incredible opportunity for DU sports, fans will be eagerly awaiting the start of next season. Only time will tell if Denver can step up to the occasion.
