Masai Ujiri has made a comeback to the professional basketball scene in Toronto. He recently became a part of the ownership group for the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo after serving 12 years in the management of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. Ujiri now joins a group of owners that includes Larry Tanenbaum, Serena Williams, and Geoff Molson among others.
Expressing his excitement, Ujiri described this opportunity as a dream come true during a recent interview. He mentioned that being part of such a high-level ownership group is an honor and a significant achievement in the sports world.
The WNBA franchise for the Toronto Tempo was awarded to Tanenbaum’s company, Kilmer Sports Ventures, in May 2024. Since then, a diverse mix of athletes, celebrities, and business personalities have joined the ownership ranks of the Tempo.
Ujiri expressed enthusiasm about learning from the varied individuals in the group, emphasizing the importance of keeping fans, players, and the community engaged. Tanenbaum praised Ujiri’s leadership, vision, and belief in the transformative power of sports, highlighting his alignment with the core values of the Tempo.
Having previously served as the general manager for the Denver Nuggets and the Toronto Raptors, Ujiri brings extensive experience in team building and operations. Teresa Resch, the Tempo’s team president, expects Ujiri’s hands-on approach to ownership to provide valuable insights for the team.
In addition to his ownership role, Ujiri launched Tempo Rising, a mentorship program for women and non-binary coaches in collaboration with the Tempo. The initiative aims to support coaches at various levels and provide access to mentorship, development opportunities, and coaching experiences.
The Toronto Tempo’s inaugural regular-season game is scheduled against the Washington Mystics on May 8 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. As the WNBA conducts an expansion draft for the Tempo and the Portland Fire, Ujiri humorously noted that player selection is now the responsibility of others, indicating his excitement for the upcoming team-building process.