Toronto Tempo Select Kiki Rice as First-Ever WNBA Draft Pick
- The Toronto Tempo, Canada's new WNBA franchise, selected UCLA guard Kiki Rice with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft on April...
- Rice, a 22-year-old American, was the third UCLA player selected during the event, following Lauren Betts, who was taken by the Washington Mystics, and Gabriela Jaquez, selected by...
- Rice joins the Tempo after a decorated collegiate career at UCLA, where she played a key role in leading the Bruins to a national title.
The Toronto Tempo, Canada’s new WNBA franchise, selected UCLA guard Kiki Rice with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13, 2026. The selection marks the first-ever draft pick in the history of the Toronto franchise.
Rice, a 22-year-old American, was the third UCLA player selected during the event, following Lauren Betts, who was taken by the Washington Mystics, and Gabriela Jaquez, selected by the Chicago Sky.
Player Profile and Performance
Rice joins the Tempo after a decorated collegiate career at UCLA, where she played a key role in leading the Bruins to a national title. During her final season, the senior guard averaged 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals over 38 games.
Her efficiency reached career highs this season, shooting 49 per cent from the field, 38.5 per cent from three-point range, and 90.2 per cent from the foul line.
Rice’s professional resume includes several accolades from the 2025-26 season, including an All-American selection, Big Ten tournament MVP, and honors for Big Ten All-Defence and two All-Big Ten nods.
Kiki Rice to ESPN’s Holly Rowe
This is so special. Everyone of us here deserves it so much and I’m just so proud of this group.
Speaking on her approach to the game, Rice stated, I take a ton of pride in just being the best teammate and figuring out how can I make everyone else better around me.
Draft Strategy and Roster Construction
The Toronto Tempo secured the sixth overall pick after winning a coin toss against the Portland Fire last month. The Tempo elected to take the higher draft position, which resulted in the Portland Fire receiving the first overall selection in the expansion draft.
In addition to Rice, the Tempo used three other picks in the 2026 draft to add to their inaugural roster:
- Forward Teonni Key (No. 22)
- Forward Saffron Shiels (No. 26)
- Guard Charlise Dunn (No. 36)
The selection of Saffron Shiels at 26th overall was a pick acquired from the Chicago Sky. This trade occurred in exchange for the Toronto Tempo not selecting any players from the Sky during the expansion draft.
The draft selections follow a period of rapid roster building for the franchise. On April 3, 2026, the Tempo selected 11 players in the WNBA expansion draft, which included veteran guards Julie Allemand and Marina Mabrey. The team further bolstered its guard rotation by signing Brittney Sykes via free agency on April 11, 2026.
League Context
The 2026 WNBA Draft saw UConn star Azzi Fudd selected first overall by the Dallas Wings, with a reported payday of $500,000 US. The draft was also noted for a record-setting number of selections from the Big Ten Conference, with eight players from the conference being drafted.
The Toronto Tempo’s front office is led by General Manager Monica Wright Rogers, who was welcomed to the organization on February 20, 2025.