Masai Ujiri Joins WNBA's Toronto Tempo

0:00It's March 31st. Welcome in. This is Canada News Today, where local news meets AI. Masayu Jerry just stepped into ownership with the new WNBA team. The Toronto Tempo. After 12 years running the front office for the NBA's Toronto Raptors, he officially joined as a principal owner on Tuesday. He's teaming up with folks like Larry Tannenbaum, Serena Williams, and Jeff Molson to build this franchise from the ground up. The Tempo got its WNBA spot back in May 2024, through Tannenbaum's group, and now they've pulled in a mix of stars from sports and business. Jerry's no stranger to winning. He was the first African general manager in major American sports, with the Denver Nuggets, then led the Raptors to. Their 2019 championship as president. Everyone's hyped about his addition. Jerry calls it a dream to own at this level, praising the group's passion for fans, players, and community. Tannenbaum highlights his leadership and vision for equity and excellence, while team

1:02president Theresa Rish says his hands on style from the Raptors. Days will be huge for building on and off the court. On the same day, Jerry launched Tempo Rising, a mentorship program for women and non-binary coaches at the entry level. It'll hook them up with pro-development and real coaching time, led by him, general manager Monica Wright Rogers, and head coach Sandy Brondello. The Tempo kicks off its first regular season game, May 8th, against the Washington Mystics, with an expansion draft happening Friday to start, stocking the roster. Jerry's pumped for the global reach, ready to chime in whenever his experience can lift this team higher.