WNBA team unveils queer turtle mascot to mock Fever star
The Toronto Tempo introduced a non-binary mascot named Dez during their game against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who recently defended women's sports from biological males.
According to Shane Galvin writing in New York Post, the Tempo unveiled Dez, described as a butch, non-binary Borealis Blue Snapping Turtle using she/they pronouns with a fondness for soft shell tacos, in a Tuesday announcement. The mascot is reportedly a Taurus and is accompanied by an anthropomorphic arctic hare named Dot who uses she/her pronouns.
Dez becomes only the second non-binary mascot in the WNBA, joining the Seattle Storm’s Doppler. The timing of the mascot’s debut was notable, coinciding with the Tempo’s matchup against Cunningham’s Indiana Fever.
The Fever won the contest 101-95, with Cunningham contributing 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 performance from beyond the arc, along with two rebounds and two assists.
Cunningham’s Common Sense Stance Sparks Controversy
The 30-year-old Missouri native has been at the center of ongoing controversy following comments she made during an interview earlier this month defending biological women’s sports.
I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men, Cunningham told ESPN on August 5, later characterizing her remarks as common sense.
She added that there is room to love everyone while maintaining that open conversations reveal common ground between people with differing views.
Despite her comments reflecting the overwhelming majority of popular opinion in America, they were not welcomed by WNBA players. On August 8, the league’s players’ union issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to “justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
Physical Retaliation and Accusations of Privilege
Cunningham has faced on-court retaliation for her stance. Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected from a game after delivering a flagrant foul that clotheslined the Fever star. Carrington subsequently took to social media from the locker room to denounce what she called “white privilege.”
Rallies both supporting and opposing Cunningham have emerged at several Fever road games since her original comments, highlighting the divisive response to her defense of biological women’s sports.
With information from New York Post
