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The rare-earth oxide YbMgGaO₄ is an exciting candidate for a quantum spin-liquid state based on a triangular lattice of Yb³⁺ ions. Experimental evidence for spin-liquid-like behavior includes a continuous magnetic excitation spectrum and the absence of long-range magnetic order to sub-100mK temperatures. Yet the origin of this behavior remains a subject for debate, with proposals ranging from resonating-valence-bond states and U(1) spin liquids, to disorder-induced mimicry of a quantum spin liquid. Disorder plays an intrinsic role in the structure of YbMgGaO₄, because magnetic Yb³⁺ layers are separated by layers with disordered Mg²⁺/Ga³⁺ occupancy. In this talk, I will discuss experimental evidence for the importance of structural disorder in YbMgGaO₄. Our X-ray and neutron scattering data reveal that structural disorder is not restricted to random Mg²⁺/Ga³⁺ occupancies, but is actually strongly correlated. I will explore the implications of our experimental results for the spin-liquid-like physics of YbMgGaO₄.