Canada’s only WNBA franchise, the Toronto Tempo, unveiled two new official mascots this week, including a DJing snapping turtle that uses she/they pronouns.
Dot the Arctic Hare and Dez the Snapping Turtle made their debut Tuesday night during halftime of the Tempo’s game against the Indiana Fever. The timing was particularly notable because Fever star Sophie Cunningham has emerged as one of the WNBA’s most outspoken critics of biological males competing in women’s sports.
The Tempo have officially unveiled their mascots. Yes, two!
Welcome Dez, the turtle and Dot, the hare. pic.twitter.com/WRbSdu5vxm
— Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh) August 19, 2026
“Dez and Dot have completely different personalities, but they’re better together,” said Whitney Bell, chief marketing officer for the Toronto Tempo. “One knows when to slow things down, the other knows when to turn the energy all the way up.”
According to the Tempo, Dez uses she/they pronouns and is a Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle from Muskoka, Ontario, who DJs in their spare time.
“Leave the mascots alone!” 😭
Come behind the scenes of our Official Mascot Reveal on our YouTube channel: https://t.co/RrmRh3fg1j pic.twitter.com/prKESxar58
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) August 21, 2026
“Their name is inspired by decibel, a nod to their love of music and role as the more measured half of the duo,” the team said. “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.”
The Tempo’s other new mascot, Dot, goes by she/her pronouns, loves cotton candy, and the team describes her as “the undisputed hype woman of the pair.”
Many have speculated that Dez identifies as “nonbinary,” which could be true, but the Tempo has not referred to it that way.
WNBA team Toronto Tempo unveils new non-binary mascot with She/They pronouns.
Dez the mascot, who uses She/They pronouns, identifies as a “borealis blue” snapping turtle from Muskoka. pic.twitter.com/i1lFdfzWPO
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 21, 2026
“The WNBA is virtue signaling so hard they’re going to break a wrist,” one social media user wrote.
LGBTQ-focused outlet Them also took notice, describing Dez as “butch” and saying the Tempo’s press release introducing the mascots “reads like a novella – a very queer novella.”
The outlet went a step further, speculating that Dez and Dot might be romantically involved. Them asked the Tempo to clarify both the mascots’ relationship status and Dez’s gender identity.
A Tempo spokesperson told Them that Dez and Dot are “besties,” prompting the outlet to update its report.
Dez’s gender identity, however, remains a mystery.
