The Toronto Tempo revealed a pair of mascots during their game against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. And they may remind you that slow and steady wins the race. Dez the Snapping Turtle and Dot the Arctic Hare made their debut at halftime.
ESPN did a quick clip of the Toronto Tempo mascot reveal: they have 2, Dot the arctic hare and Dez the snapping turtle pic.twitter.com/GvbM33QOMj — Danielle H. (@DanielleHobeika) August 19, 2026 Dot (she/her) is an Arctic Hare named for Toronto’s nickname, T-Dot, the Tempo said in a press release. From the Arctic Circle, the release said, "she brings seemingly endless energy, acrobatics and enthusiasm to everything she does – making her the undisputed hype woman of the pair." Dez (she/they) is a Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle from Muskoka, Ontario. The press release said: "their name is inspired by decibel, a nod to their love of music and role as the more measured half of the duo. Dez is calm, clever and always thinking a few steps ahead."
Canada, they’re home! A warm welcome for Dez & Dot. Official Mascot Reveal presented by @TurboTaxCanadapic.twitter.com/lwf6JGjACX — Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) August 19, 2026 “From the beginning, we wanted our mascots to feel distinctly Tempo – rooted in who we are as a Canadian team,” said Whitney Bell, Chief Marketing Officer of the Toronto Tempo. “Dez and Dot have completely different personalities, but they’re better together. One knows when to slow things down, the other knows when to turn the energy all the way up. That balance felt like such a natural expression of Tempo, and we can’t wait for our fans to get to know them.” The release said: "Together, Dez and Dot offer a new spin on one of the oldest pairings in storytelling: the tortoise and the hare. Instead of slow against fast, they are steady and swift – a reminder that knowing when to change pace can be just as important as the pace itself."
Meet your Official Toronto Tempo Mascots: Dez & Dot. Together they are patience and passion, rhythm and speed. Official Mascot Reveal presented by @TurboTaxCanadapic.twitter.com/yhMQUMhuf6 — Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) August 19, 2026 This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Toronto Tempo introduce pair of mascots: Meet Dot and Dez