A jersey reveal intended as a celebration for the Toronto Tempo has quickly become a whirlwind of accusations. Fans immediately noticed a striking resemblance between the Tempo’s new uniform and the Unrivaled Vinyl team’s jersey.
Whitney Bell, the chief marketing officer, emphasized the intentionality behind every design element. “Every detail of these uniforms is intentional. From the Borealis Blue story to the six speed lines, we’ve created a design that brings our brand to life,” Bell stated.
Social media exploded as fans highlighted the connection. One fan jokingly wrote, “If that looked any more like @Unrivaledwbb Vinyl jersey you’d have to pay Stewie and Collier royalties lol lol lol,” referencing WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the co-founders of Unrivaled and owners of the Vinyl’s intellectual property. Another fan called the jerseys “unrivaled leftovers, man,” suggesting the Tempo’s design was a late attempt to capitalize on the Vinyl’s established look.
The Vinyl uniforms had already been seen during Unrivaled’s first season (January – March 2025) and again in November 2025, preceding the Tempo’s December 16, 2025, reveal. The similarities, particularly the parallel stripes and dark mode color schemes – Bordeaux and neon Borealis Blue mirroring the Vinyl’s dark kits with high-contrast accents – intensified the criticism.
The controversy arrives at a crucial moment for the Tempo franchise. Just last week, the team sold out their season tickets, a key initial goal before the May game. Bell acknowledged the excitement but cautioned that the design debate could detract from that momentum as the team prepares to begin selling jerseys in January.
Fans are clearly unhappy with the new design. Do you think the Toronto Tempo should bin the current jersey and work on a new one?