Kiki Rice picked sixth overall by the Toronto Tempo

Senior guard Kiki Rice was selected sixth overall by the Toronto Tempo as the first pick in program history.

Rice entered UCLA as ESPN’s No. 2 player in the class of 2022. She has been a crucial factor for the Bruins all four years of her collegiate career and saw career highs in points, rebounds and all three levels of shooting this past season.

The Bethesda, Maryland, local jumped from 11.6 points per game her freshman year to 14.9 points per game this past season while also boosting her efficiency. In her senior year, Rice shot 48.9% from the field and 38.5% from the 3-point line, both career-high marks.

But her game is not limited to scoring. Rice averaged 4.3 assists per game in the 2025-26 season on a 2.55 assists-to-turnover ratio – eighth in the country – while also recording 57 steals, the second-most on the squad.

The Third Team All-American consistently finds ways to impact her team, something that will prove to be invaluable on the Tempo.

With this being the Tempo’s inaugural season, the squad is building from the ground up. Rice joins guards Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes, but the lack of notable players on the team will allow the former Bruin to shine.

The basketball IQ and playmaking skill Rice brings to the league, combined with her ability to score on all three levels, makes her a valuable player for the opening season of Tempo history.

[Related: Championed by Campion: Kiki Rice is longtime key piece underlying women’s basketball’s success]

(Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)