Former ESPN personality Sage Steele has publicly criticized the Toronto Tempo's newly unveiled nonbinary mascot, Dez, a Snapping Turtle that uses she/they pronouns. Steele described the mascot as "laughable" in a post on X, formerly Twitter, stating it was a "desperate attempt to prove how inclusive you are."
The Toronto Tempo, in their inaugural WNBA season, introduced two mascots: Dot, an Arctic Hare using she/her pronouns, and Dez. The reveal occurred during halftime of the Tempo's game against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday.
Dez is described by team officials as a Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle from Muskoka, Ontario, inspired by the word "decibel." The team notes Dez is calm, clever, and a Taurus who enjoys music and soft shell tacos. Team officials stated the mascots, Dez and Dot, offer a modern take on the tortoise and the hare fable, emphasizing the importance of knowing when to change pace. Whitney Bell, Chief Marketing Officer for the Tempo, said the goal was to create mascots that felt "distinctly Tempo" and were rooted in the team's Canadian identity.
The mascot announcement coincided with the team hosting Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever. Cunningham has been at the center of a league-wide discussion regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports after sharing her views in a previous interview. Her stance has drawn both support and criticism.
In response to the debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports, former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have declared their eligibility for the WNBA draft. Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, announced his intentions earlier in the month. White has since followed suit.
Miami, Florida - The Toronto Tempo made headlines earlier in the week after announcing two new mascots, including 'Dez' who is a Snapping Turtle that uses she/they pronouns.
The franchise confirmed that Dez, a Snapping Turtle, uses she/they pronouns.
The timing of the announcement added a layer of intrigue to the evening, coming on the same night the Tempo hosted Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever at Scotiabank Arena.
