Did the WNBA accidentally leak the nickname of its Toronto franchise?
After much anticipation, it appears that Toronto’s WNBA expansion team may have settled on a nickname: the Toronto Tempo. Screenshots began circulating on social media on Tuesday night showing a drop-down menu on the league’s website that referred to the team as the Tempo. However, there has been no official confirmation from the team or the league.
CBC Sports reached out to the team and a PR firm for comment, but as of now, there has been no response. The Toronto Tempo is expected to begin playing in the WNBA in 2026 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum as part of the league’s expansion to 15 franchises. The Golden State Valkyries will debut in 2025, with Portland joining Toronto in 2026.
In November, a team official hinted to CBC Sports that a name announcement would likely come “early in the new year.” If the Tempo is indeed the chosen nickname, Toronto would be the only professional sports team in North America with that moniker.
Throughout the process, Toronto has been transparent about its branding efforts. The team has released a behind-the-scenes podcast and shared eliminated team names like the Traffic, Towers, and 6ixers on social media. Fans were also given the opportunity to submit suggestions for the team’s identity, nickname, colors, and branding.
Recently, sportslogos.net, a publication that covers professional sports team branding, posted leaked images of the Toronto Tempo logo. The branding features a light blue and white color scheme, with the logo being a T encircled by a basketball. This branding aligns with the team’s PWHL counterpart, the Sceptres, who play in blue and yellow.
If the leaked information is accurate, Toronto fans can look forward to cheering on the Toronto Tempo in the WNBA with a fresh new look and identity. Stay tuned for an official announcement from the team as they continue to build excitement for their inaugural season in 2026.
