The WNBA might be slow to get ready for the 2026 season because of the delay in the CBA negotiations, and the expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, is not waiting any longer.
The Tempo unveiled its jersey for the season, giving fans a glimpse of its on-court apparel. The new and bold jersey comes in two variants: a burgundy “Explorer” and a white “Heroine” jersey, as CMO Whitney Bell proudly highlights their details.
However, the WNBA fanbase highlighted several points that underscore the WNBA’s dark corporate era.
Controversy Around Toronto Tempo’s Jersey
The Toronto Tempo’s jersey colorway includes two prominent colors – White and Burgundy, which they mentioned as Tempo Bordeaux. The initial color was plum purple when the team announced its head coach. But the reason for the new colorway was to match the sponsor, CIBC, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Moreover, the striking new difference was the use of font, where the actual font of the logo is smaller than the sponsor’s font, which highlights the dark era of the WNBA’s corporate dependency.
Every thread tells our story – our city, our country, our future, our time.
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) December 16, 2025
Introducing the inaugural Toronto Tempo Explorer and Heroine jerseys. pic.twitter.com/ze1LALcVcf
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
Earlier, when the league was struggling to find its footing among the fans and was slowly gaining popularity, it was heavily reliant on the income from the sponsors. Players like Maya Moore used to suit up for the Mayo Clinic, and Elena Delle Donne for GEICO, which was highlighted on their jerseys instead of the franchise name.
But now, the 2026 expansion team has chosen its path with the jersey and has another big decision to make.
Toronto Tempo Has Critical Decision Ahead Of WNBA Season
Toronto Tempo recently announced Sandy Brondello as their head coach. Although the coach will bring in her own experience, she can also attract top players from free agency. But one priority that the team will be looking to work on will be its first draft, which will decide its future plans and be the centerpiece of the franchise.
According to the draft lottery result, the team has a chance to pick within the top seven, allowing them to have a top young star on the roster. While the WNBA draft predictions top 5 are constantly changing, the side needs to decide on its pillar for the future.
Initially, many sports outlets proposed two names- Ta’Niya Latson from South Carolina and Awa Fam from Valencia, where the two stars are shining for their respective teams, and are capable of making an immediate impact on the WNBA team, too.
It will be up to Sandy Brondello and the front office to decide on their first top pick, which could be a historic one for the franchise.