Masai Ujiri to join ownership group for WNBA’s Toronto Tempo
Masai Ujiri will become a principal owner of the WNBA expansion team Toronto Tempo, which will begin play this season, the franchise announced Tuesday. Ujiri was the lead basketball executive in charge of the Toronto Raptors from 2013-2025, culminating in the franchise’s only NBA title in 2019. “As an honourary Canadian, I’m excited to be part of the Tempo team as I believe they are building something truly historic — a franchise that represents not only Canada, but the future of basketball,” Ujiri said in a statement.
“I believe deeply in the vision behind the Tempo: creating female leaders, elevating women not just on the court, but across the organization, and building championship culture from day one. This is more than just a new team — it’s a defining moment in women’s basketball globally. ” The Tempo previously announced that Serena Williams would also be a principal owner of the franchise.
Kilmer Sports Ventures, the sports group headed by long-time Toronto sports figure Larry Tanenbaum, is the majority owner of the franchise. In a statement, Ujiri and the Tempo said they will launch a global coaching mentorship program called Tempo Rising, which will support women-identifying and non-binary coaches who are beginning in competitive sports. “Masai’s leadership, his vision, and his deep belief in the power of sport make him an extraordinary addition to our ownership group,” Tanenbaum said in the statement.
“In his role as a principal owner, his influence and values align perfectly with what the Tempo stands for — equity, excellence, and purpose. Together, we will continue to build a franchise that reflects the best of what sport can do for communities here in Canada and around the world. ” As president of the Raptors, Ujiri brought on Teresa Resch, now the president of the Tempo, to be a top executive in his front office.
He also was especially close with Tanenbaum, a part-owner of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns the Raptors, Maple Leafs, Toronto FC and other entities in the city. In negotiating a new contract to remain with the Raptors, Ujiri became a vice chairman of the franchise in 2021. For most of Ujiri’s time with the Raptors, Tanenbaum wielded the balance of power within MLSE, as competing telecommunications giants Rogers and Bell held equal stakes in the company.