The Toronto Tempo introduced a new non-binary mascot before their WNBA game against the Indiana Fever, a rollout that appeared to carry an added layer of commentary amid ongoing attention around Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
In a Tuesday announcement, the franchise unveiled Dez, described by the team as a Borealis Blue snapping turtle who uses she/they pronouns and has a particular love for soft shell tacos.
Dez will not be working the sidelines alone. The mascot is joined by Dot, an anthropomorphic arctic hare who uses she/her pronouns.
The Tempo also added a playful detail to Dez’s profile, noting that the new mascot is a Taurus.
With the debut, Dez becomes one of two non-binary mascots in the WNBA, alongside Doppler of the Seattle Storm.
The timing of the announcement drew notice because it came during Toronto’s home matchup with the Indiana Fever, whose guard Cunningham has been vocal in debates over transgender athletes and the protection of girls’ and women’s sports.
On the court, Indiana came away with the win, defeating the Tempo 101-95.
Cunningham contributed 13 points for the Fever, shooting 3-of-4 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range, while adding two rebounds and two assists.
The 30-year-old Missouri native set off the ongoing controversy — rallies backing and bashing Cunningham have popped up at several Fever road games — with comments made during an interview earlier this month.
“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 told ESPN on Aug. 5, later defending her remarks as “common sense.”
“I think there is room for absolutely everyone here, and I think there is room to love everyone,” Cunningham said. “I truly think when you get people in the same room and you have conversations, you actually have a lot in common with a lot of people. And so I’m there to love.
Those comments, which align with the overwhelming majority of popular opinion in America, were not welcomed by WNBA players.
On Aug. 8, the league’s players’ union issued a statement, writing in part, “We embrace justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
Cunningham, meanwhile, was on the receiving end of a flagrant foul from Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington, who was thrown out of the game after clotheslining the Fever star — and immediately took to social media in the locker room to call out “white privilege.”
