Kiki Rice excited to join Toronto Tempo in WNBA

The UCLA star will play for the league's newest franchise in its inaugural season.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in the colors of the Toronto Tempo and Washington Mystics uniforms.The Toronto Tempo's first-ever draft pick, Kiki Rice, will look to lead the expansion franchise to success in their inaugural WNBA season.Washington Today

Kiki Rice, the standout guard who led UCLA to the NCAA women's basketball championship this year, was selected by the Toronto Tempo with the first pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. In her draft night interview, Rice expressed excitement about joining the Tempo, noting that her uncle is Canadian and she has family living in Toronto.

Why it matters

The Tempo are the WNBA's newest franchise, set to make their debut in the 2026 season. Landing a top prospect like Rice is a major coup for the expansion team as they look to build a competitive roster and establish a strong fan base in Toronto.

The details

Rice, who averaged 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game during her senior season at UCLA, said she's never been to Toronto but is looking forward to the opportunity. The Tempo will open their inaugural WNBA season at home on May 8 against the Washington Mystics.

  • Rice was selected with the Tempo's first-ever draft pick on April 13, 2026.
  • The Tempo will host the Washington Mystics in their WNBA regular season opener on May 8, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Kiki Rice

A standout guard who led UCLA to the NCAA women's basketball championship in her senior season, Rice was selected by the Toronto Tempo with the first pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Toronto Tempo

The newest franchise in the WNBA, set to make its debut in the 2026 season. The Tempo selected Kiki Rice with their first-ever draft pick.

Washington Mystics

The WNBA team that will face the Toronto Tempo in the Tempo's inaugural regular season game on May 8, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Never been to Toronto, but I'm really excited to get there. My uncle's Canadian. Have some family living there. I know it's going to be a great time.”

— Kiki Rice, Newly drafted Tempo player

What’s next

The Tempo will host the Washington Mystics in their WNBA regular season opener on May 8, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

Kiki Rice's excitement about joining the Toronto Tempo signals a promising start for the WNBA's newest franchise. As a top prospect coming off an NCAA championship, Rice's arrival could help the Tempo establish a strong foundation and build a loyal fanbase in Toronto.