The 14th WNBA team has been officially named.
Canada's first WNBA team will be known as the Toronto Tempo, the franchise announced Thursday morning.
However, the league apparently leaked the team names online the day before, and some people were already expecting that to happen.
Fans quickly noticed on Wednesday that the WNBA's official website listed the Canadian team as the “Toronto Tempo.”
Their suspicions were confirmed in the team's official announcement on Thursday.
Teresa Resch, president of Tempo, said the team name pays homage not only to the rhythm of basketball, but also to the hustle and bustle of the city.
“Tempo is pace. It's speed. It's the beating of the heart. And it's what you feel when you step onto the streets of this city. It's what you feel in the energy of the people who call Canada home. ,” Lesh said in a statement. “As Canada's WNBA team, I know that tempo sets our own pace, moves to the rhythm of a championship, and inspires people across this country.”
Toronto has shared several team logo designs in a maroon and light blue color scheme. Some say the Tempo brand is reminiscent of vintage New Balance.
Toronto crowdsourced the team's name and brand identity, with more than 10,000 participants participating during the “Name Your Team” campaign.
“Tempo reflects what fans can expect from this team, which of course includes the in-game experience in the arena,” Resch said. “The sounds of the courtroom. The beat of the music. The passion of the fans around you and the intensity of the players on the floor. When choosing a name for Canada's WNBA team, it was very important to capture all of that energy, excitement, and emotion.” did.”
The Tempos are still more than a year removed from their first season.
Toronto is scheduled to play its first season in 2026 with the yet-to-be-named Portland franchise.
The Golden State Valkyries expansion team will debut in the 2025 season.
