TEMPO GUARD KIKI RICE NAMED TO 2026 WNBA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

Toronto Tempo guard Kiki Rice has been named to the 2026 WNBA All-Rookie team, as announced by the league on Wednesday.

Rice was selected sixth overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, becoming the first draft pick in Tempo history. She started 20 of the 28 games in which she appeared during her debut season, averaging 13.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 0.8 steals in 27.1 minutes per game. She ranked fourth among rookies in scoring while shooting 47.2% from the field, 35.1%, from three-point range, and 86.9% from the free-throw line.

“We are incredibly proud of Kiki and everything she accomplished in her first WNBA season,” said Monica Wright Rogers, General Manager, Toronto Tempo. “When we selected Kiki as the first draft pick in franchise history, we believed she had the talent, poise and work ethic to become an important part of what we are building in Toronto. She continued to grow throughout the season, responded to every challenge and showed us the impact she can have on both ends of the floor. This recognition is so well deserved, and we believe it is only the beginning for her.”

Despite missing nearly two months with an ankle injury in June, Rice established herself as one of the league’s top first-year players. She scored in double-figures in 21 of her 28 appearances and closed the season with 12 of 13 games in double-digit scoring performances, averaging 16.5 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 steals over that stretch.

Rice finished her rookie campaign with a career-high 28 points and a career high-tying eight rebounds against the Connecticut Sun on September 24. She committed zero turnovers in the game, becoming one of only nine rookies in WNBA history to score at least 28 points without a turnover.

Rice delivered historic performances throughout the season. On August 10 against the Atlanta Dream, she became the first rookie in WNBA history to come off the bench and record at least 18 points and six assists without committing a turnover. She also recorded seven turnover-free games while playing at least 17 minutes.

The recognition follows Rice’s selection to the Associated Press All-Rookie team late last month. She is the first player in Tempo history to be named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team and the franchise’s first to receive an official WNBA end-of-season honour.

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