Masai Ujiri, Serena Williams back new WNBA franchise in Toronto

Ujiri, the former president of the Toronto Raptors and architect of their 2019 championship, will help lead the Tempo’s strategic direction, including launching a player development initiative, Tempo Rising, focused on mentoring future women’s basketball leaders.

The appointment underscores Ujiri’s longstanding ties with Larry Tanenbaum, whose Kilmer Sports Ventures secured the expansion franchise in May 2024, as well as his prior collaboration with team president Teresa Resch.

Speaking to ESPN, Ujiri cited the rapid growth of women’s sports as a key driver of his investment, describing the opportunity as both commercially compelling and personally significant.

The WNBA, currently comprising 13 teams, is expanding to 15 with the addition of the Tempo and the Portland Fire.

Ujiri’s move comes 10 months after his departure from the Raptors. During his time away from the NBA, he has focused on family and continued his development work in Africa, including the launch of a sports city in Kigali and new infrastructure projects across the Sahel region.