As Toronto Tempo prepares for a stunning debut in the WNBA, they are acing all the steps so far. From the expansion draft to the court unveil, they are hitting the right notes. The WNBA community can’t help but praise the “player safety” aspect of their newly unveiled court.

The team’s X handle recently shared a post, unveiling the court with a bit of anticipation. The court features the team’s logo at the center, with yellow shades near the paint and blue between the key and the three-point line.

“It’s here, and it’s perfect. Our official Toronto Tempo court unveil. 🥹,” the post’s caption read.

The franchise will play its first game on this court later this month during the preseason. They will face the Connecticut Sun. According to reports, the Tempo will play most of its games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum but will also play in several other arenas, including Scotiabank Arena, the Bell Center in Montreal, and Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

This unveiling comes just a few months after the franchise struck its first nail on its identity, unveiling its kit. And now, with the court unveiling, the team has its home. The next step towards fulfilling their identity is stepping onto the court for the first time in the league’s history. And subsequently, the fans had plenty to talk about it on social media.

Comparisons With Atlanta Dream’s Court, Praise for Players’ Safety, Echo Toronto Tempo’s New Court Unveiling

“Looks fantastic! And it looks like an actual wood floor. Thank goodness. Player safety above all else,” a fan wrote.

“Ok Tempo 🔥🔥🔥🔥 I’m about to enjoy watching Mabrey drain 3s on this court 👏👏 Let’s get the season started already,” commented another.

Seemingly, the court is a proper hardwood, well-polished, and can help the players immensely with the traction. But entirely new courts can sometimes get a tad slippery, and that can’t be commented on until the first game is played on them. Fans may emphasize player safety, particularly with the introduction of new ASBGlassFloor Technology courts.

But the good thing is that it’s generally not used for WNBA official games, although the Big 12 used it for official competition during the conference championship earlier in the collegiate season, and reports surfaced that the court provides less traction for shoes. But the Toronto Tempo court is nothing like that; it’s pure hardwood, which the fans have been quite content with.

“I like it. It looks very professional and not over-the-top like Atlanta’s ugly court,” stated another.

The comments sit quite appropriately with the court that the team put on display at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. The court matches the colors of their logo perfectly, which, in itself, is quite appealing to fans. And of course, the first season of a team in the league has to address these nuances to solidify its positioning as a brand, especially considering that Tempo is the first to be based outside of the USA.

On the other hand, the comparisons with the Atlanta Dream’s court were a bit overexaggerated, but they do have some substance. Last season in the W, the Dream unveiled a court that was predominantly black. Fans largely called it best suited for an outdoor court, with the court going through a media trial at almost every stage of the league.

And the major sentiment around the court was that the fans didn’t like it much, which is also true for a certain section of fans regarding Tempo’s court.

“They need to try again, it looks so rushed and generic,” remarked another. 

“Another old mediocre 4-6k barn the ladies have to play in 🥲🙃🫠,” chimed in another.

While some fans liked the court and praised its nuances, many others found it a bit old-school and mediocre compared to the league’s high standards. The likeability factor of the Toronto Tempo court is, of course, a bit subjective. The debates will rage on, but ultimately, it will be their performance on the court that determines their ceiling in their first season in the W.

And to achieve that, the team has taken its first step by picking a formidable team. Their team features a perfect mix of experience and youth, including players like Brittney Sykes, Nyara Sabally, and Kiki Rice, a formidable guard they picked in the WNBA draft on Monday.

All of their preseason endeavors, the players, the quality of the court, all of it will be put to the test when they step in to play their first preseason game against the Connecticut Sun on April 30.