Toronto, one of the WNBA’s newest franchises, now has a name- the Toronto Tempo.
Tens of thousands of fans submitted names for Canada’s first WNBA franchise, and the Toronto Tempo was chosen as it reflects “the rhythm” of the city.
“Tempo is pace. It’s speed. It’s a heartbeat. And it’s what you feel when you step into the streets of this city, and in the energy of the people who call Canada home,” said Teresa Resch, President of the Toronto Tempo, in a statement. “As Canada’s WNBA team, I know the Tempo will set our own pace, move at a championship cadence, and inspire people across this country.”
According to the release, the team’s promotion to come up with a name received over 10,000 submissions from fans in Canada and all over the world, and the name was finalized through the submissions and a community council.
The name promotes inclusivity as it was purposely designed to work in both English and French and its logo design represents the team’s values through characteristics such as its forward-leaning design, meant to represent progress, and six lines representing the five players on the court and the team’s fans.
“Tempo reflects what fans can expect from this team – including, of course, the in-game experience at the arena,” said Resch. “The sounds of the court. The beat of the music. The passion of the fans around you and the intensity of the players on the floor. Capturing all that energy, excitement and feeling was crucial as we chose the name for Canada’s WNBA team.”
The city was awarded the franchise in May of this year, and it will begin play in the 2026 season at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum.
The WNBA has 12 active franchises. Next season, the Golden State Valkyries begin play in San Francisco, followed by the Tempo and a team in Portland, giving the league 15 teams. It aims to add one more franchise, with potential locations being Philadelphia, Denver, Miami, Milwaukee, St. Louis or Cleveland.
