The Toronto Tempo has added former Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri to its ownership group, the WNBA expansion franchise announced on Tuesday.
“I think women’s sports is growing in an incredible way,” Ujiri, who will be a principal owner, told ESPN. “You see it in the WNBA, in soccer, in hockey, and to bring a brand like this for the first time to a city that I know, a beautiful city that’s passionate, that I believe in — I think this will really resonate,” Ujiri told ESPN. “Ownership is a unique opportunity for me and my family.”
The Tempo’s ownership group is led by Larry Tanenbaum, who was a part of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment when Ujii was in charge of the Raptors as the two helped delivere the franchise an NBA title in 2019. Serena Williams, the 23-time women’s tennis major champion, is also involved.
After his post-playing career, Ujiri worked in scouting and management before returning to the Raptors, where he previously served as assistant general manager, as the franchise’s executive vice president and GM in 2013.
In June 2025, Ujiri and the Raptors parted ways after 12 seasons. Over the past nine months, he has worked in helping build sports infrastructure in Africa.
Ujiri told ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne that one of his goals is to experience another championship win and to be able to celebrate it. That wasn’t the case in 2019 when a San Francisco sheriff’s deputy stopped Ujiri from coming on to the court to celebrate with the Raptors because he did not have the right credentials.
The sheriff’s deputy sued Ujiri and Ujiri countersued before the case was eventually dropped.
“There’s a hunger in me because of what happened,” Ujiri said. “I want to win again so I can actually enjoy it.”
The Tempo will begin its first WNBA season in May under head coach Sandy Brondello. The franchise will begin constructing its first roster beginning with the expansion draft on April 3, where they will select second after fellow debutantes the Portland Fire, and will later have the sixth overall pick in the WNBA Draft on April 13.
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