Masai Ujiri Joins Ownership Group of Toronto’s New WNBA Franchise, the Tempo

Masai Ujiri, former president of the Toronto Raptors, has joined the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the city’s inaugural WNBA franchise that will begin play this season. The group is led by businessman Larry Tanenbaum, who co-owned the Raptors when they captured Toronto’s first NBA championship in 2019.

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Since leaving the Raptors, Ujiri has focused on Giants of Africa, United Nations work, and the Zaria Group’s sports-infrastructure projects, including a completed sports city in Rwanda and upcoming facilities in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mauritania. He remains engaged with NBA trends and says his goal is to win another championship, a drive he links to a police incident that marred his celebration of the 2019 title.

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The ownership includes Larry Tanenbaum, team president Teresa Resch (who has known Ujiri since 2008), general manager Monica Wright Rogers, and head coach Sandy Brondello.

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Ujiri said women’s sports are expanding rapidly and described ownership as a unique chance for his family. He said the police incident left a lingering disappointment that fuels his drive to win another championship. Resch highlighted Ujiri’s mentorship and his innovative ideas for building a team. The group presented Tempo Rising as a concrete step to broaden coaching pathways for under-represented groups.

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• “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,” — Masai Ujiri, former Toronto Raptors president

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• “Ownership is a unique opportunity for me and my family.” — Masai Ujiri

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The Tempo will take the court in the upcoming WNBA season, while Tempo Rising launches this summer, pairing aspiring coaches with Ujiri, Rogers and Brondello. Ujiri’s African sports-city projects are expected to open within weeks, extending his development agenda beyond Canada.

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