IRVINE, Calif. – Beginning with the spring 2026 season, the Concordia University Irvine women’s water polo team will become a new conference member of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA).
CUI currently participates in the GCC (Golden Coast Conference) and will continue to do so in the upcoming 2025 season.
“As we began to determine the best direction for the future of our women’s water polo program, it became clear that the WWPA was the best choice from every perspective,” said Crystal Rosenthal, CUI’s vice president of athletics. “This will align our program with like-minded institutions and provide an opportunity for our student-athletes to compete at the NCAA regional level. Consistency is always good, and having our men’s and women’s water polo programs under one roof will bring us stability for years to come. I look forward to our women finishing their time in the GCC strong this spring and advancing in the WWPA next season.”
“Concordia has established itself as one of the top programs in Division II water polo and we are thrilled to welcome them to the WWPA on the women’s side,” said WWPA Commissioner Mike Reid. “The Golden Eagles fit the conference’s mission both academically and athletically. I expect them to be competitive from the start and raise the quality of play at the WWPA Championships.”
Led by third-year head coach Casey Greenawalt, Concordia is emerging as a consistent postseason threat under the former CBU assistant coach. In 2024, Greenawalt’s squad included ACWPC Division II All-American Tamsyn Evezardwhile teammate Abby Mammen received honorable mention. Sixteen CUI players were honored with conference All-Academic honors.
“Our transition to the WWPA strategically positions us alongside universities with similar programs and improves our women’s team’s chances to compete for conference championships annually,” explained Greenawalt. “Securing a conference title is critical to advancing to the NCAA National Championship, and this move makes that goal increasingly attainable for our program. This development is not only exciting for our current student-athletes, but it also strengthens our recruiting efforts and attracts top talent nationwide.
On the men’s side, CUI has been a member of the WWPA since 2017. This brings the conference’s total to seven institutions competing in both the men’s and women’s divisions (beginning in 2025-26), as the Golden Eagles will join Biola, Fresno Pacific, Gannon, McKendree, Salem and UC Merced. Additionally, Cal State Monterey Bay also competes only with a women’s program.
“Combining our men’s and women’s teams in the same conference will also provide significant benefits to all Concordia Golden Eagle water polo student-athletes,” added Greenawalt. “We are grateful for the administration’s support in this transition and look to make history in our final year in the GCC while establishing new milestones in the WWPA that our university, administration, fans and alumni will be proud of. We want to thank the GCC for the last few years of high-level competition and are grateful that the WWPA has provided us with a new home for competition.”
Six women’s teams will compete in the WWPA in 2024-25: Biola, Cal State Monterey Bay, Fresno Pacific, Gannon, McKendree and Salem.
