One of the most respected executives and visionaries in global basketball, Masai Ujiri, has joined the Toronto Tempo as a principal owner.

As the architect of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA Championship and founder of Giants of Africa, Ujiri has dedicated his career to empowering global communities through sport, while championing women’s empowerment, equity, and opportunity at every level of leadership and development.

Now, as an owner of the Toronto Tempo, the Kaduna-born administrator brings that same vision to developing the next generation of leaders in women’s basketball in Canada and around the world.

“As an honourary Canadian, I’m excited to be part of the Tempo team as I believe they are building something truly historic — a franchise that represents not only Canada, but the future of basketball,” said Ujiri. “I believe deeply in the vision behind the Tempo: creating female leaders, elevating women not just on the court, but across the organisation, and building a championship culture from day one. This is more than just a new team — it’s a defining moment in women’s basketball globally.”

Ujiri’s commitment to advancing women in sport comes to life through Tempo Rising, an innovative global coaching mentorship programme in collaboration with the Tempo.