The Toronto Tempo basketball team debuted a new mascot named Dez, described as a “butch, non-binary Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle” who uses she/they pronouns. The team announced the mascot's arrival on Tuesday, coinciding with their home game against the Indiana Fever. Dez also has a partner, an arctic hare named Dot, who uses she/her pronouns. The team stated Dez is a Taurus.
Dez joins the Seattle Storm's Doppler as one of two non-binary mascots in the WNBA. The Tempo's decision to introduce the mascot during a game against the Fever, whose player Sophie Cunningham has been vocal on issues surrounding gender in sports, has drawn attention. Cunningham recently stated in an interview, “I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” She later defended her comments as “common sense.”
Cunningham’s remarks have ignited debate, with rallies supporting and opposing her views occurring at several Fever road games. The WNBA players’ union issued a statement on August 8, asserting their embrace of “justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
During the game where the new mascot was introduced, the Indiana Fever defeated the Toronto Tempo 101-95. Cunningham contributed 13 points to her team's victory, shooting 3-of-4 from the field, including 3-for-3 from three-point range, and added two rebounds and two assists.
Earlier in the month, Cunningham was involved in an incident during a game against the Chicago Sky, where Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected after a flagrant foul. Carrington subsequently posted on social media, referencing "white privilege."