Masai Ujiri, the Nigerian executive and former President and Vice Chancellor of the 2019 National Basketball Association (NBA) champions, the Toronto Raptors, is transitioning his leadership expertise to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
- Masai Ujiri, former Toronto Raptors executive, has become a principal owner of the new WNBA team Toronto Tempo.
- He joins Serena Williams in the ownership group, aiming to support women’s basketball development through initiatives like the Tempo Rising mentorship program.
- Ujiri’s leadership and team-building experience from his NBA career, including the Raptors’ 2019 championship, are expected to benefit the new franchise.
- His involvement is linked to his strong professional network, notably with Larry Tanenbaum and Teresa Resch, as well as his passion for sports development.
Ujiri joins legendary tennis professional Serena Williams as a principal owner of the Toronto Tempo, a Canadian-based franchise preparing for its inaugural season in the WNBA.
“One of the most respected executives and visionaries in global basketball, Masai Ujiri, has joined the Tempo ownership group as a Principal Owner,” the team said via X.
“Ujiri will play a pivotal role in developing the next generation of women’s basketball leaders through a new coaching mentorship program called Tempo Rising.”
Before being a major part of the Toronto Raptor’s first ever NBA championship, Ujiri was an NBA scout, ensuring that the teams he worked for attracted the best talent.
By 2016, he became the president of the Canadian-based Toronto Raptors, and was integral to signing finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, who helped bring a championship to the city of Toronto.
Now he brings his talent-hiring and team management expertise to a women’s team, which is having its first go-around in the top female basketball league in the world.
This transition is regarded as a significant development, attributed to Mr. Ujiri’s established professional rapport with Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures, the entity granted the WNBA expansion franchise in May 2024.
Furthermore, the move is bolstered by his long-standing mentorship of Tempo President Teresa Resch during their shared tenure with the Raptors.
“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,” he said to ESPN.
“Ownership is a unique opportunity for me and my family,” he continued.
Thirteen teams currently play in the WNBA, but with the addition of the Tempos and the Portland Fire, the league is set to expand to 15 teams.
Ujiri’s new role was confirmed on Tuesday, just 10 months after he left the Toronto Raptors.
“It’s been extremely busy,” Ujiri said of his year away from the NBA, which he has spent mostly in Florida with his family,” he stated.
“I was able to focus on my family. I went from having a driver for 12 years because I’m always on the phone, to now being an Uber driver for my kids.
They’re in sports, and they take them to this practice, take them to that. And then I’ve been working on facilities and infrastructure on the continent,” he added.
He also spoke about his efforts in developing talent in Africa.
“We just completed the sports city [in Rwanda], and now I’m doing things with the U.N. in the Sahel [region of north-central Africa]. And we’re going to open in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Mauritania in a few weeks. We made a pledge to build the sports complexes, and they’re absolutely incredible.”
Masai Ujiri’s parental background
Masai Ujiri was born to African parents, Paula Grace physician from Kenya’s Machakos County, and Michael Ujiri, a Nigerian hospital administrator from Delta State (Isoko ethnic group).
Masai was born in England, where his parents first met while studying. Later, they returned to Nigeria to raise their family in Zaria.
