Former Raptors president Masai Ujiri joins ownership group for WNBA's Toronto Tempo

The WNBA is coming to Toronto this season — and Masai Ujiri is now part of it. The longtime Toronto Raptors lead executive has joined the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA team set to begin play this year. One of the most respected executives and visionaries in global basketball, Masai Ujiri, has joined the Tempo ownership group as a Principal Owner Dedicating his career to empowering global communities through sport, Ujiri has made it his mission to champion women’s… pic.

twitter. com/Cz2yTpRIsJ — Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) March 31, 2026 Ujiri spoke about what motivated him to join, speaking with Ramona Shelburne of ESPN . "I think women's sports is growing in an incredible way.

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. Ownership is a unique opportunity for me and my family. " Ujiri was one of the more respected executives around the league, but was pushed out in Toronto in part due to a personality conflict with the new head of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), which owns the Raptors.

He told Shelburne he wants to return to the NBA at some point. "I've been learning more about our game, the NBA, looking at trends and what we might be missing by studying other leagues. I spend a lot of my time trying to do that because one of my main goals is to win another championship.