The Toronto Tempo just got a double dose of new energy, revealing not one, but *two* new mascots Tuesday during their game against the Indiana Fever. Dez the snapping turtle and Dot the arctic hare are officially on the scene, but even with this fresh vibe, the expansion franchise is battling through a brutal 10-game losing streak, sitting at a tough 10-23 record well outside the WNBA playoff picture.
Dez and Dot: The New Faces of Canadian Ball
It’s a full-on mascot party up north! The Toronto Tempo, in their inaugural WNBA season, decided two mascots are better than one, dropping Dez the snapping turtle and Dot the arctic hare on us Tuesday. Whitney Bell, the Tempo’s chief marketing officer, said they wanted these mascots to ‘feel distinctly Tempo’ and truly ‘rooted in who we are as a Canadian team.’ Bell highlighted their ‘completely different personalities’ but how they’re ‘better together,’ with one knowing ‘when to slow things down’ and the other knowing ‘when to turn the energy all the way up.’ That balance, she stressed, is a ‘natural expression of Tempo.’ Can this on-brand duo help set the actual Tempo on the court? We’ll see!
On-Court Reality: A Tough Inaugural Season
While Dez and Dot bring the hype, the cold, hard reality on the court has been a brutal grind for this expansion Tempo squad. They rolled into Tuesday’s game riding a mind-numbing 10-game losing streak, with their overall record sitting at a rough 10-23. That puts them well outside the WNBA playoff picture, which stings. There have been flashes of real brilliance and reasons for optimism, especially when Marina Mabrey is out there with her offensive output. You can totally see the potential. But the team’s depth just hasn’t been enough to consistently go toe-to-toe with the league’s best teams. And it absolutely did not help that Brittney Sykes, a key player, was sidelined for so long, missing a ton of action since June 16. The silver lining? Sykes made her return to the court Tuesday, making her comeback on the exact same night Dez and Dot made their big debut. Coincidence? Maybe. But the team needs all the help and good vibes it can get.
So, the Toronto Tempo just loaded up with a brand-new, dynamic duo in Dez and Dot, and more importantly, Brittney Sykes is officially back on the floor. Can this injection of fresh mascot energy and a key player’s return spark a real turnaround for a team that’s been battling through a brutal first season? Those 10-23 numbers are tough, and a 10-game skid is no joke. Every game from here on out is a chance to build that chemistry, find some wins, and show what this young core is truly made of. It’s an inaugural season for a reason, so the focus has to be on developing that talent, finding their rhythm, and seeing what they can do as they look ahead. Let’s see if the turtle and the hare can bring some actual ‘Tempo’ to their game and turn things around!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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