Overview
- The Tempo revealed Dez, a Borealis Blue snapping turtle listed as she/they, and Dot, an Arctic hare listed as she/her, at halftime on Tuesday, Aug. 18, in a theatrical debut against the Indiana Fever.
- Team statements say the characters were designed, approved by the WNBA, trademarked, and produced by the Chicago Mascot Company after secret auditions and costume fittings.
- The organization released detailed backstories—Dez is steady and music-minded from Muskoka while Dot is energetic and acrobatic from the Arctic Circle—to tie the mascots to the Tempo brand and Canadian motifs.
- The team is keeping the performers’ identities, ages and genders private, and that secrecy has not stopped fans and commentators from debating the meaning of Dez’s she/they listing, especially because Sophie Cunningham and the Fever were in Toronto that night.
- Coverage and public reaction have been mixed, with some praising the inclusivity signal and others criticizing the choice or design, and the rollout has brought fresh public attention to wider WNBA conversations about gender, policy and fan engagement.