Ellie the Elephant is the mascot for the New York Liberty of the WNBA.[1] She is also known to her fans and in pop culture as Big Ellie or Big Ellie Liberty.
Ellie originated in the year 2021, with the team's change in ownership and move to the Barclays Center, replacing the previous mascot Maddie, a dog.[2] [3]
The character is known for her sass and dance moves.[4] [5] [6]
Ellie has been a runaway success, referred to by players and fans alike as a vital part of the team and the vibe at the Barclays Center.[7] Her pop culture dominance has gotten noticed throughout the WNBA and beyond, and the creative team is on the record as being surprised and delighted at her resonance in the sport. [8]
When the ownership of the New York Liberty changed hands from James Dolan (owner of Madison Square Garden and the NY Knicks) to Clara and Joe Tsai (owners of the Brooklyn Nets), the team moved to Barclays Center. The prior mascot for the Liberty, a dog called Maddie, was named after Madison Square Garden.[9] For their move to Brooklyn, NY Liberty CEO Keia Clarke researched animals that were commonly associated with New York City, and learned that when construction was completed on the Brooklyn Bridge, there was a parade of P. T. Barnum's elephants (including Jumbo) to show people that the bridge was strong enough, held for its first anniversary on May 17, 1884. Clarke thus thought an elephant could symbolize the team's own move to Brooklyn. The name Ellie is after Ellis Island, the historic welcome center for new immigrants, next door to Liberty Island, the home of the Statue of Liberty.[10] The mascot wears a radiate crown in the style of the Statue of Liberty, as was also worn by the prior mascot Maddie.
The performer who embodies the Ellie costume remains anonymous,[11] but they are a Brooklyn native. Ellie's main creative team are NY Liberty Chief Brand Officer Shana Stephenson, senior director of entertainment Criscia Long and senior entertainment manager Shenay Rivers, who are all black women. They oversee Ellie in addition to the Timeless Torches, the Torch Patrol, The Lil Torches, along with any outside performers. [12]
Ellie's escorts who hold her bag and support her during game day are called The Stompahz. [13]
Ellie has several signature crowd participation moments, including the Ellie Stomp, The Ellie Wave, and the "Gotta Get Up" song that plays during the late game t-shirt toss.[13]
Ellie has performed notable halftime tributes to such artists as Lil Kim, Missy Elliot, Beyonce, Tyga, Mary J Blige, and others.[14] [13]