On the same day he cemented his legacy as a Toronto Raptor, Kyle Lowry put down more roots in Toronto.
Lowry, who signed a one-day contract to retire as a Raptor on Tuesday, is now a member of the Toronto Tempo’s star-studded ownership group, alongside his wife, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ayahna Cornish-Lowry.
The ownership group of Canada’s only WNBA team is led by Toronto businessman Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Ventures, and also includes tennis great Serena Williams, former Raptors president Masai Ujiri, Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson, Montreal sports executive France Margaret Bélanger, Canadian actress Lilly Singh, and technology executive Sukhinder Singh Cassidy.
Lowry announced his retirement on Tuesday after a 20-year NBA career, including nine seasons in Toronto.
He helped lead the Raptors to the team’s only NBA championship in 2019, and has been one of the most beloved figures in Toronto sports. His No. 7 jersey will be retired to the rafters of Scotiabank Arena.
Kyle Lowry returns to Toronto to retire as a Raptor
“This place has just been special for me since the day I got here,” Lowry told reporters at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday.
Cornish-Lowry was a star in her own right at St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania, where she was named the team’s best offensive player over two consecutive seasons.
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“Through her leadership and the couple’s work with the Lowry Love Foundation, she has helped create meaningful opportunities for underserved communities while championing education, wellness and the power of sport to create positive change,” the Tempo said in a news release on Tuesday. “Together, Lowry and Cornish-Lowry have been longtime supporters of the women’s game and have remained committed to growing basketball for future generations.”
Both were in attendance beside Ujiri back in 2024, when it was confirmed Toronto would be getting a WNBA franchise.
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“Kyle and Ayahna have made an immeasurable impact on the game of basketball and on the city of Toronto,” said Tanenbaum, who chairs Kilmer Sports Ventures and the Toronto Tempo. “Their commitment to community, their passion for growing the game and their belief in the future of women’s sports make them outstanding additions to our ownership group. We are proud to welcome them to the Tempo family.”
The Tempo sit in 9th place in the Eastern Conference as the team nears the halfway mark of its inaugural WNBA season.
Earlier this week, Tempo guard Marina Mabrey was named a reserve player in the WNBA All-Star Game, becoming the first player to represent the new team at the event.
