Kiki Rice had a connection to Toronto long before the Tempo drafted her sixth overall in April.
The 5-foot-11 guard smiles as she's shown a 2022 photo of herself alongside former Raptors assistant coaches Earl Watson and Rico Hines, who were sporting gear from Canada's lone NBA franchise.
Rice recalls the Raptors' coaching staff and players coming to UCLA for offseason workouts during the summers after her freshman and sophomore years. In the gym, she took note of the high-level basketball that the guests embodied.
She's only become more familiar with the country's passion for the sport in the month following the draft.
Vince Carter, who began his Hall of Fame career with Toronto in 1998, recorded a video message that was shown to Rice on draft night. He previewed the historic journey she would soon embark on as the first rookie picked by the expansion Tempo. Retired floor general Damon Stoudamire did the same, sharing his perspective as the Raptors' first-ever draft selection in 1995.
Rice has a chance to write the next chapter in Canadian basketball and inspire a whole new generation of people. That's something she isn't taking lightly.
"It's an incredible opportunity that I have here to be part of the first team in Canadian basketball history on the WNBA side," Rice told theScore. "To be the Tempo's first draft pick, that's a lot of firsts that no one can ever take away from me. ... I'm just excited for that responsibility."
Rice is no stranger to the spotlight as ESPN's No. 2 prospect in the class of 2022 and the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to the Bruins.
The Maryland native was immediately penciled in as UCLA's starting point guard, tasked with elevating a program that sought its maiden Final Four berth after finishing .500 in Pac-12 play the year prior.
The Bruins steadily improved over Rice's four seasons in Westwood, making back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances before breaking through to the Final Four in 2025. They finally reached the mountaintop in 2026, with Rice capping an All-American campaign with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the national championship win over South Carolina.
Now, Rice is back to square one with a team beginning its inaugural season. A lot of eyes are on the Tempo's prized rookie, but she feels prepared for everything that accompanies that title, having been a catalyst for the Bruins' transformation into a powerhouse.
"There are a lot of parallels from my choice in going to UCLA, committing there, (and) helping build that program to what's gonna happen here hopefully," Rice said. "Obviously, it's a little bit different. You go where you're drafted. But I do think (there are similarities in) … deciding and wanting to go build a program, not necessarily go somewhere that was as established, that had won championships, that had been to Final Fours.
"Just being comfortable sticking that through, building it out, recognizing and knowing it's a multi-year process that takes time, takes commitment. I feel like I know what it takes to get to that level."
Toronto general manager Monica Wright Rogers had Rice on her radar for quite some time. The executive recruited Rice during her stint as an assistant coach at Virginia.
Wright Rogers became impressed with Rice's ability to attack downhill and the way she embraced playing defense, and her admiration grew as Rice expanded her skill set over the years.
Leading up to the draft, Wright Rogers was equally struck by Rice's mental approach and how she handled her predraft interview, which cemented the front office's belief that she could be a foundational piece.
"We really wanted to understand how she thought about the game of basketball, how she thought about her future and her development," Wright Rogers told theScore. "We all agree that she was just a very well-thought-out mature, young lady that was self-aware. She knew what she was good at and she knew what she needed to work on. We thought that was a great combination, and she just presented herself as a well-balanced human."
Wright Rogers, who was also a guard during her playing days, believes that the front office has created an optimal environment that will make Rice's transition to the pros as smooth as possible.
Tempo bench boss Sandy Brondello was an MVP in Australia's top domestic league and a WNBA All-Star before joining the coaching ranks. Veteran guards Brittney Sykes, Marina Mabrey, Julie Allemand, and Kia Nurse were brought in as well.
Sykes was in a similar situation last season with the Washington Mystics before being traded midseason to the Seattle Storm. She received praise for her mentorship of then-rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, who both earned All-Star nods.
Sykes is looking to provide the same guidance for Rice and has been encouraged by what she's seen in training camp.
"It's just letting her feel it out. She has a good sense of the game. She's very receptive," Sykes told theScore. "The things that we give her, she's easily taking the information and translating it out to the court. ... To be on her own on the court with a whole bunch of vets, that speaks volumes. You don't realize she's a rookie."
Sykes added: "I'm just here to help her if she has questions. But also, I'm more action-based. So it's like, 'See what I do. If you like it, follow along.'"
Rice developed into an elite defender over her collegiate career. The 22-year-old often uses her length to deflect passes and instincts to jump passing lanes. She credits her growth on that end of the floor to watching and practicing against former Bruins teammate Charisma Osborne, who became a 2024 third-round pick of the Phoenix Mercury.
Rice is tackling her first WNBA training camp the same way, focusing on the fine details when she's around Sykes, a two-time All-Defensive first-team selection, to further improve her perimeter defense.
"She gets through screens exceptionally well. I'm watching that. I'm watching the way she's active with her hands," Rice said. "She's not getting beat on straight-line drives. She's sliding (her feet). That's something that I've been watching and that you've gotta be able to do at this level to be a high-level defender. So, I think having guards around me who can set that example is something that I really value."
While Rice has leaned on her teammates early on, she's also recognizing when to speak up. As one of the club's point guards, Rice feels that it's her responsibility to say something if adjustments need to be made on the court.
Finding that balance is easier said than done, especially with a group that's never played together. But Brondello is already seeing leadership qualities in Rice and expects her to be more vocal as she builds relationships with her peers.
"Any rookie coming in, there's probably a little bit of intimidation," Brondello told theScore. "But you wouldn't notice that on court because actions speak louder than the words for me. ... Just the way that she plays and competes, she's already earned that respect, and her voice matters."
Rice is projected to have a key role off the bench when the Tempo tip off the season Friday against the Mystics. She's a savvy pick-and-roll playmaker and loves the spacing provided by Brondello's system, which gives her the room to use change-of-pace moves on drives.
As Rice begins the next phase of her career, she's eager to grow alongside the team and set the tone for years to come.
"I'm gonna compete at a really high level," Rice said. "I'm gonna attack everything at ease. Just being ready to learn. Be someone who can help take this organization to the next level. Be a building block. Help lay the foundation and steer us in the right direction.
"I think that starts with your culture. That starts with how you show up every single day. ... I'm just really excited to demonstrate my commitment to this organization, to this city, to this team."
