Toronto Tempo’s first draft pick is UCLA star and champion Kiki Rice

By Editor

The Toronto Tempo went West with the first draft pick in franchise history.

UCLA point guard Kiki Rice, fresh off leading the Bruins to the school’s first NCAA women’s title, fulfilling the promise that made her the highest-ranked recruit in that programme’s history, now becomes one of the faces of another team with high expectations.

The Tempo, who join the WNBA with the Portland Fire for this season, which starts in less than a month, opted for Rice with the sixth overall selection.

The 22-year-old San Francisco native was a high school and Team USA junior superstar, winning every high school player-of-the-year award in 2022 and helping the USA to four gold medals. At 5-foot-11, Rice is a big guard who attacks the paint relentlessly (and hit 90% of her free throws this season). Her outside shot improved over her time at UCLA, and if that continues, Rice will be tough to stop.

She scored 10 points, along with six rebounds, five assists and three steals in UCLA’s win over South Carolina for the championship and made the All-Tournament Team.

Rice is also seen as a program builder, having set “a new standard for our program,” UCLA coach Cori Close told reporters before the season.

Rice’s cousin is former New York Knicks great Allan Houston, and her aunt, Susan Rice, has served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and as the National Security Advisor. Rice also said on the broadcast of the draft that an uncle lives in Toronto, and she has some relatives who are Canadian.

“Never been to Toronto, but really excited to get there,” Rice said.

The Tempo is building a formidable backcourt. The team previously signed guards Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey to two-year max contracts, and also signed Julie Allemand.

As a senior, Rice was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, All-Big Ten Defensive Team and the AP All-American Third Team.

Back in 1995, the expansion Toronto Raptors made Damon Stoudamire the first draft pick in franchise history, seventh overall. That turned out well, with Stoudamire becoming the first face of the franchise and the rookie of the year.

The Tempo hope they’ve found a gem at point guard, too.

The team was also slated to pick the 22nd and 26th later Monday.

Yahoo News Canada