Nigeria-born basketball executive Masai Ujiri has taken a major step into women’s professional basketball after becoming a principal owner of Toronto Tempo, a new franchise preparing to compete in the Women’s National Basketball Association.
Ujiri, who earned global acclaim for building the Toronto Raptors squad that won the 2019 NBA title, is expected to bring his leadership and development-focused philosophy into the new project. He is also the founder of Giants of Africa, an initiative dedicated to empowering African youth through sport.
Speaking on his new role, Ujiri expressed enthusiasm about the franchise’s vision, describing it as a historic opportunity to shape the future of basketball while promoting female leadership both on and off the court.
His involvement also links him with tennis icon Serena Williams, who is part of the club’s ownership group, further boosting the profile of the Toronto-based team ahead of its debut.
Beyond ownership, Ujiri is contributing to “Tempo Rising,” a global mentorship programme aimed at supporting women and non-binary grassroots coaches through training and development opportunities.
Chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures, Larry Tanenbaum, welcomed Ujiri’s appointment, highlighting his leadership, vision, and belief in the transformative power of sport as key assets to the franchise.
Ujiri’s addition underscores a strong commitment to equity, growth, and long-term development in women’s basketball as the team gears up for its inaugural season.
