Will Masai Ujiri Lead Toronto To Second Title?

Over the weekend, the W’s two newest members –the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo –made their selections in the WNBA Expansion Draft.

Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo Create Their Inaugural Rosters In WNBA Expansion Draft

After selecting Bridget Carleton with their first pick, the Fire added Carla Leite, Luisa Geiselsöder, Emily Engstler, Maya Caldwell, Chloe Bibby, Haley Jones, Nyadiew Puoch, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Sug Sutton and Nika Mühl in the subsequent rounds. Notably, only three of those players –Leite, Barker and Mühl –are actually on their active roster, the others having priority in free agency negotiations. The fashionable Mühl, a highly popular player during her time at UConn, is the most well-known of that trio.

The Tempo drafted Julie Allemand with their first pick before selecting Nyara Sabally, Marina Mabrey, Aaliyah Nye, Lexi Held, María Conde, Maria Kliundikova, Adja Kane, Nikolina Milic, Kitija Laksa, and Kristy Wallace. Toronto only has two players who are under contract in Sabally and Nye, the former the sister of WNBA star Satou Sabally, who’s currently a free agent. Interestingly, both the younger Sabally sister and Nye are WNBA champions, the latter having only been drafted in 2025.

Will Masai Ujiri Lead Toronto To Second Title?

Neither the Fire nor the Tempo are likely to win a championship in their inaugural season. Nevertheless, they both used the expansion draft to acquire players that can become foundational. Toronto in particular put themselves in an intriguing position, both now and in the future.

For starters, though many may think the Tempo got the wrong Sabally sister, adding Nyala is a chess move. If she can convince Satou to join the fledgling franchise, it will expedite their growth, perhaps exponentially. A three-time All-Star, the versatile forward is still just 27 years old.

Mabrey is another veteran that Toronto could find particularly useful. Though Mabrey’s competitiveness can border on recklessness, she’s an advanced and seasoned facilitator. She’s exactly the type of player that can make life easier for their centers, like Sabally and Kane.

Additionally, the latest NBA-WNBA crossover has seen former Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri join their organization as a principal owner. Although Tempo president Teresa Resch will be the one steering the ship, Ujiri’s input will undoubtedly be valued. The 55-year-old spent 15 seasons as an NBA executive, including 12 with the Raptors that included a historic championship run in 2019. Furthermore, prior to Resch being hired by the Tempo, she was one of the Raptors’ vice presidents under Ujiri.

To ask the question of whether Ujiri can lead Toronto to a championship is admittedly reductive. Again, the Tempo will have multiple people making key decisions, including Resch. Nonetheless, his long shadow reflects his prominence in the basketball world and Toronto’s sports scene. His name will not only be attached to their record, but it will be boldface, highlighted and underlined.