Masai Ujiri Joins Ownership Group of WNBA Expansion Team Toronto Tempo
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Former Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has purchased a stake in the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA expansion club set to debut this season, the team confirmed on March 31.
Ujiri joins an investment group headed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum, his partner in the Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship run. Speaking with ESPN, Ujiri said ownership offers “a unique opportunity for me and my family” and called Toronto “a beautiful city that’s passionate” about sports.
Focus on Women’s Sports
The 53-year-old executive said the rapid growth of women’s leagues across basketball, soccer and hockey motivated his decision. “I think women’s sports is growing in an incredible way,” he noted.
Busy Year Away From the NBA
Since leaving the Raptors a year ago, Ujiri—who was raised in Nigeria—has concentrated on his Giants of Africa foundation, United Nations initiatives and the Zaria Group, which is building athletic and entertainment facilities across Africa. Recent projects include a completed sports complex in Rwanda and upcoming sites in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mauritania.
Based mostly in Florida with his family, Ujiri joked that he has transitioned from having a driver to acting as “an Uber driver” for his children’s practices.
Desire for Another Title
Ujiri remains in close contact with NBA coaches, players and owners and said he is studying global basketball trends while eyeing a potential return to the league. He acknowledged unfinished business from 2019, when a confrontation with a sheriff’s deputy at Oracle Arena marred the Raptors’ title celebration. Both parties later dropped competing lawsuits.
“There’s a hunger in me because of what happened,” he said. “I want to win again so I can actually enjoy it.”
Working With Familiar Faces
At the Tempo, Ujiri will collaborate with team president Teresa Resch and general manager Monica Wright Rogers, both long-time colleagues. “Masai has been a mentor of mine since 2008,” Resch told ESPN, adding that his arrival has taken their partnership “to another level.”
Tempo Rising Mentorship Program
Ujiri is also launching Tempo Rising, a global coaching mentorship initiative tied to the franchise. The program will provide entry-level support—including mentorship, professional development and on-court experience—for women-identifying and non-binary coaches who will work with Ujiri, Wright Rogers and head coach Sandy Brondello.
The Toronto Tempo begin their inaugural WNBA season later this year.
Source: ESPN
