The Toronto Tempo plunged themselves into the WNBA’s trans athlete controversy with their new nonbinary mascot, Dez, during Tuesday’s matchup against Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever.
The timing made the move look like a clear dig at Cunningham, who has been at the center of the controversy since her comments about protecting young girls in women’s sports during an ESPN interview.
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Now, former ESPN anchor Sage Steele has accused the expansion franchise of making a desperate show of inclusivity at Cunningham’s expense.
Sage Steele Rips Toronto Tempo Over New Nonbinary Mascot Amid Sophie Cunningham Controversy
Dez, a butch, uses she/they pronouns and was introduced as a Borealis Blue snapping turtle. The character is also a Taurus and, according to the team, has a fondness for soft-shell tacos. Dez joins Seattle Storm mascot Doppler as one of the WNBA’s nonbinary mascots.
Alongside Dez, the Tempo also unveiled Dot, an Arctic hare who uses regular she/her pronouns, possibly showcasing the Tempo’s stance on inclusivity.
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However, Steele didn’t find the presentation amusing. Responding to a New York Post post on X that framed the mascot reveal as an apparent jab at Cunningham, Steele wrote:
“When your mascot is a ‘butch, non-binary Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle who uses she/they pronouns and has a fondness for soft shell tacos’ … you deserve to be laughed at…simply for your desperate attempt to prove how inclusive you are. Laughable.”
Cunningham’s comments have drawn support from prominent figures outside the WNBA, including Vice President JD Vance. Within the league, however, she has largely faced opposition to her stance.
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Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was among the first to publicly signal her disagreement, wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt on the sideline before a Fever-Lynx game earlier this month.
Fever coach Stephanie White has also pushed back, saying she does not believe “exclusion is an answer.”
The Tempo’s mascot reveal appeared to take that response a step further, at least in the eyes of Cunningham’s supporters.
However, it didn’t include any explicit statement linking Dez to Cunningham. The Tempo presented Dez and Dot as part of the franchise’s identity and as a twist on the traditional tortoise-and-hare pairing.
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The timing nevertheless made the connection difficult to ignore. Cunningham was booed by portions of the Toronto crowd throughout the game, which marked Indiana’s first appearance in Canada.
On the court, however, the Fever kept the attention where they wanted it. Indiana defeated Toronto 101-95, with Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark combining for 53 points. Cunningham added 13 points while making all three of her 3-point attempts.
Toronto, which began play in 2026 as the WNBA’s 14th franchise and first team outside the United States, suffered its 11th straight loss.
The Fever will travel to Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada, to face the Tempo in their next matchup of the season on Friday, September 18.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
