Toronto’s WNBA franchise, the Tempo, unveiled two new mascots Tuesday night, sparking immediate buzz across social media. The reveal came during halftime of the game against the Indiana Fever.
Toronto Tempo Unveils Two New Mascots, Including a DJing Turtle
The new characters, Dez the snapping turtle and Dot the Arctic hare, made their debut at halftime of the game against the Indiana Fever, a match that drew attention after Fever star Sophie Cunningham publicly criticized the league’s inclusion of biological males in women’s competition. Cunningham’s remarks have intensified the conversation around gender eligibility in the WNBA.
Whitney Bell, chief marketing officer for the Tempo, said the duo “have completely different personalities, but they’re better together,” noting that one “knows when to slow things down, the other knows when to turn the energy all the way up.” She emphasized that the mascots are designed to reflect complementary traits.
Dez, a Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle from Muskoka, Ontario, uses she/they pronouns and works as a DJ in spare time. The team describes Dez as calm, clever and forward‑thinking, a Taurus who spins beats and claims a secret talent in snapping, while also expressing a love for soft‑shell tacos.
Dot, identified with she/her pronouns, favors cotton candy and is labeled “the undisputed hype woman of the pair,” adding a burst of color to the partnership. Together, the duo aims to energize fans and reinforce the Tempo’s brand identity.
Speculation that Dez identifies as nonbinary has circulated, though the Tempo has not confirmed any gender identity beyond the stated she/they pronouns. The team has declined to elaborate further on Dez’s gender identity.
One Twitter user declared, “The WNBA is virtue signaling so hard they’re going to break a wrist,” while LGBTQ outlet Them called Dez “butch” and described the press release as “a very queer novella,” later asking the team to clarify the mascots’ relationship status and Dez’s gender identity. The outlet’s inquiry prompted a response from the Tempo.
A Tempo spokesperson told Them that Dez and Dot are “besties,” prompting the outlet to revise its story. The spokesperson offered no further details on Dez’s gender identity, which remains undisclosed.
Social media chatter also highlighted the broader cultural conversation around gender representation in women’s sports. Many observers link the mascots’ reveal to ongoing debates about inclusion and visibility.
