The Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s Canadian expansion franchise that is currently in its inaugural season, introduced its official mascots during a home game against the Indiana Fever on August 18.
The pair — Dez, a Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle, and Dot, an Arctic Hare — debuted at halftime. “Dez and Dot made their debut at Scotiabank Arena and brought two very different kinds of energy – and a shared sense of rhythm – to the court for the first time,” the team announced on its official website.
The announcement describes Dez as having “she/they” pronouns. It further describes the mascot as “a Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle from Muskoka, Ontario. Their name is inspired by decibel, a nod to their love of music and role as the more measured half of the duo. Dez is calm, clever and always thinking a few steps ahead. A Taurus who spins the 1s and 2s in their spare time, Dez’s secret talent is snapping – they also have a particular fondness for soft shell tacos.”
Dot is not non-binary, as it uses “she/her” pronouns, according to the team. She is described as “an Arctic Hare named for Toronto’s longtime nickname, T-Dot. Originally from the Arctic Circle, she brings seemingly endless energy, acrobatics and enthusiasm to everything she does – making her the undisputed hype woman of the pair. A Gemini whose hobbies can best be described as ‘hops and hype,’ Dot loves cotton candy, Drive to Survive, and any opportunity to get the crowd on its feet.”
WNBA team reveals new queer turtle mascot to taunt Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham https://t.co/6PMHtlo58K pic.twitter.com/PXopribInP
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) August 22, 2026
Whitney Bell, the Tempo’s Chief Marketing Officer, provided some background on selecting the mascots in a separate statement. “From the beginning, we wanted our mascots to feel distinctly Tempo – rooted in who we are as a Canadian team. Dez and Dot have completely different personalities, but they’re better together. One knows when to slow things down, the other knows when to turn the energy all the way up. That balance felt like such a natural expression of Tempo, and we can’t wait for our fans to get to know them.”
Social media users noted that “non-binary” mascot reveal conveniently took place during the Tempo’s home game against the Indiana Fever. Sophie Cunningham, a Fever guard, had criticized the presence of biological males competing in women’s sports approximately one month earlier.
The move has led to backlash from the team’s far-left fanbase and ownership class, with multiple instances of harassment and assault of pro-Cunningham fans documented in the weeks following her comments. In one instance, Seattle Storm minority co-owner Celeste Keaton cursed out two young fans who expressed support for Cunningham.
