The 2026 expansion draft is just three days away, and the Toronto Tempo won the coin toss, deciding the order of the expansion draft picks. As per reports, the Tempo team will pick second in the expansion draft and will also have the sixth overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft to add to their roster.
While the franchise is preparing for the upcoming season, there are major updates from the front office following the addition of Masai Ujiri as the franchise’s principal owner. The former president of the Toronto Raptors takes a major stake in the franchise to move to the position.
Masai Ujiri Becomes Principal Owner Of Toronto Tempo
In the latest advancements, the current Sustainable Development Goal Advocate for the United Nations, Masai Ujiri, became a principal owner of Toronto Tempo. He will seek to provide leadership and coaching expertise, drawing on his NBA experience.
Speaking about the collaboration with Tempo franchise, Ujiri said, “As an honorary 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.”
The Toronto Tempo have announced that former Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri has joined the team as a principal owner. pic.twitter.com/aARLVjcpTw
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 31, 2026
“I believe deeply in the vision behind the Tempo: creating female leaders, elevating women not just on the court, but across the organization, 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 added in his statement.
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He joins an ownership group for the Tempo franchise that includes Chairman Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures, and a second principal owner, Serena Williams. For the UN, Ujiri has continued his humanitarian work in Africa.
While investment in WNBA franchises is flowing in, the 2028 WNBA expansion team, the Cleveland team, also received a massive investment from minority owners led by Monarch Collective. As for the northerners, the franchise already has a champion mindset investor in Serena Williams, who is looking to contribute to the team’s success as well.
Serena Williams Shares Her Vision For Toronto Tempo Franchise
Legendary tennis star is always looking to empower women in sports and in business, too. She recently collaborated with Angel Reese in a social project, the Barbie DreamFest team, which works on real-world storytelling and representation for inspiration to others.
For the WNBA expansion team, the 23-Grand-Slam winner has a similar vision. In the recent interview, she said, “One of the reasons I wanted to become an owner of a WNBA team is because I love the sport. I love women’s sports. I’ve been championing sports for so many decades. And I feel like there’s so much more that I can bring to the sport.”
Trailblazer. Champion. Investor for a better future in women's sport.
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) March 23, 2026
Serena Williams has always set the standard for athletics, both on and off the court. For her, becoming an owner in the Toronto Tempo didn't just mean being part of history, but bringing her expertise and… pic.twitter.com/8EP2Ve2Squ
The player has been an icon in the Tennis world and invested in multiple sports franchises and events, including the Unrivaled league, NWSL’s Angel City FC, TGL’s Los Angeles Golf Club, and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.