Toronto Tempo Turn Over a New Leaf

While watching the CBS broadcast this afternoon of the Phoenix Mercury at Toronto Tempo WNBA game, I noticed what I think is an attractive shellac maple leaf filling in the area between the two three-point arcs (see following image from a social-media tweet).

It turns out, though, that this is not the expansion Tempo's full-time court. The team plays most of its home games at Toronto's 8,500-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Coliseum court lacks the leaf and the areas between the three-point arcs and the keys are painted light blue.

The above-pictured design with the maple leaf and maroon arc-fills turns out to be for something called the Cross-Canada Series. As part of the series, the Tempo, as the WNBA's only current Canada-based team, will be playing two games each in Montreal and Vancouver. What we're seeing today is a special game played at Toronto's 19,800-seat Scotiabank Arena (home of the Raptors and Maple Leafs), at which the Cross-Canada floor apparently is being previewed. 

Big XII's Glass/LED Floor Unveiled at Women's Conference Tournament

The new, much-anticipated, glass/LED floor for the Big XII's conference tournaments is now on display for the women's games, with the men's to follow next week. Some players reported the court feeling "slick and slippery," according to this article, which also contains a photograph of the full court from high above. Another article contains a video showing how the floor can be lit up in color from below, showcasing different schools' logos. The design aspect with a huge number of little "XII" markings was introduced last year, although not on a glass/LED surface.

UPDATE (March 13, 2026): Due to players slipping and getting injured, the Big XII has announced it will cease use of the glass/LED floor immediately and use a hardwood floor for Friday's men's semifinals and Saturday's final.

Virginia State with Large Logo at Both Ends of Court Rather Than Midcourt

Frequent contributor Matt Rachmiel recently brought to my attention a unique court design at Virginia State University. As shown here, a large version of the school's Trojan logo appears in the key area at both ends of the court, rather than at midcourt, where most schools put their logo. I find the design a little distracting, as the white lines delineating the key and the semicircle behind the free-throw stripe are painted over the logo. Have any of you readers seen another court like this?