Shortly after winning a national championship with UCLA women’s basketball, the Toronto Tempo drafted guard Kiki Rice with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Rice was the first-ever draft pick in the expansion team’s history.
Now just three games into her WNBA career, Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said Rice has not disappointed. So far this season, Rice has averaged 7.7 points and 1.3 assists in 19.7 minutes per game.
“We got really lucky getting her in the draft,” Brondello said, per the Los Angeles Times. “She hasn’t disappointed.”
May 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Tempo guard Kiki Rice (1) dribbles against Washington Mystics guard Georgia Amoore (8) during the fourth quarter at Coke Cola Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Brondello Credits UCLA For Preparing Rice For the WNBA
Rice returned to Los Angeles and even to UCLA’s campus over the weekend for the Tempo’s back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Sparks. Brondello told reporters Rice’s experience at UCLA, and working with coach Cori Close, has helped Rice transition smoothly into the WNBA.
“She stays confident in who she is, and that’s what we just pour into her,” Brondello said. “She comes from a really successful, you know, college program in UCLA. Cori [Close] is a great coach, and you know, pushed her hard for greatness. So she’s very mature. She knows that there’s another level that she can go to. She’s going to work really hard to get there.”
Rice is one of six Bruins who were drafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft. She explained to reporters that playing alongside five other 2026 draft picks helped prepare her for the professional level.
Rice and the Tempo have their second game against the Sparks on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, giving Rice another chance to perform in front of the LA crowd.
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