Masai Ujiri Joins Toronto Tempo Ownership as Principal Owner

Toronto, March 31, 2026 - Longtime NBA executive Masai Ujiri has joined the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the Women's National Basketball Association's newest expansion franchise, as a principal owner, the team announced Tuesday.

Ujiri, who served as president of basketball operations for the NBA's Toronto Raptors for over a decade, brings extensive experience in building competitive teams to the venture. He first entered the league's front office in 2010 as general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations for the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first African-born executive in that role for a major American professional sports league. Named NBA Executive of the Year in 2013, Ujiri joined the Raptors later that year as general manager and was promoted to president in 2016. Under his leadership, the team assembled a roster that captured the 2019 NBA championship, the franchise's first title.

Ujiri departed the Raptors in June 2025 amid organizational changes and the team's recent struggles, including missing the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons. Since then, he has devoted time to family and initiatives outside the NBA, such as his nonprofit...