Ellie the Elephant
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]
Origins
[edit]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, Maddie the Bear, 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. 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.
Creative Team
[edit]The performer who embodies the Ellie costume remains anonymous[11], but they are a Brooklyn native. Ellie is part of a team of strong black women and works in close collaboration with Ellie's main creative team, NY Liberty Chief Brand Officer Shana Stephenson, senior director of entertainment Criscia Long and senior entertainment manager Shenay Rivers, who 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]
Notable Performances and Dance Moves
[edit]
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]
References
[edit]- ^ Jackson, Hannah (May 21, 2024). "The Most Fashionable Person in the WNBA Isn't a Person At All". Vogue. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ Culgan, Rossilynne Skena (July 11, 2024). "Who is Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty Mascot?". Time Out. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ Megdal, Howard (May 6, 2021). "Passing the torch: First look at Ellie, new Liberty mascot". TheNextHoops. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ Covington, Abigail (October 13, 2023). "Have You Ever Seen an Elephant Twerk?". Time Out. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ "Who is Ellie the Elephant? Meet the New York Liberty's sassy mascot taking over WNBA games". For The Win. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
- ^ "A Mascot Skeptic Warns Of What Comes After Ellie The Elephant | Defector". defector.com. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ Powell, Jackie (2024-07-03). "Ellie the Elephant waves, stomps and puts on the most entertaining show in Brooklyn". The Next. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ Oler, Kiri (2024-07-22). "Ellie is putting the rest of the WNBA's mascots on notice". The Next. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ Covington, Abigail (2023-10-13). "Have You Ever Seen an Elephant Twerk?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ Megdal, Howard (2021-05-06). "Passing the torch: First look at Ellie, new Liberty mascot". The Next. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
- ^ Covington, Abigail (2023-10-13). "Have You Ever Seen an Elephant Twerk?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ Hurd, Sean (2024-06-14). "New York Liberty mascot Ellie brings Black creativity to WNBA". Andscape. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ a b c Powell, Jackie (2024-07-03). "Ellie the Elephant waves, stomps and puts on the most entertaining show in Brooklyn". The Next. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "Lil Ellie-Kim, Elliyoncé and more of Ellie the Elephant's best moments". ESPN.com. 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-26.