Diva. Fashionable. Unapologetic. Entertaining. She's your favorite mascot's favorite mascot.
It's Ellie the Elephant, better known as "Big Ellie," the charming mascot that has become a social media darling and a fixture at New York Liberty home games in Brooklyn.
Her online presence has made her just as much of an attraction for the WNBA franchise as the players themselves, as her content connects with fans beyond the arena. It's hard to escape Ellie when the season kicks off.
"As much as people are coming out to buy tickets for our athletes, some folks want to come out and see Ellie," Liberty Chief Brand Officer Shana Stephenson said. "Ellie pushes the boundaries of who a mascot has been traditionally."
WNBA fashion:Tunnel walks, 'aura' and bombshell brand deals: WNBA stars emerge as powerful players in fashion
What makes Ellie popular?
The dynamic mascot moves and grooves through the stands at the Barclay Center. The goal is to give fans a memorable experience whether the team wins or loses.
Ellie has gone viral for executing the latest TikTok challenges to her roughly 160,000 followers, her fly outfits, GRWM (Get Ready With Me) videos, and intricate dance routines. Although she doesn't speak, her energy keeps the vibe alive in the arena during downtime.
"Work it. Work it," fans could be heard saying as she entertained them.
Her rise to stardom is a domino effect of the growing demand for the WNBA. Liberty tickets have become increasingly sought-after, with the franchise breaking it's attendance record earlier this season. Celebrities such as Ciara, Russell Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Issa Rae, Tierra Wack, Alicia Keys, and Common have all graced courtside.
"I just love the excitement and the buzz around the league as a whole," Stephenson said, adding that Liberty games have been described as the "best summer party in Brooklyn" with the "best game day atmosphere in sports, period, not just in the WNBA."
"Whether you're a celebrity or local fan, it has been rewarding to see that we appeal to such a diverse audience."
Ellie The Influencer
When the New York Liberty announced the move from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan to the heart of Brooklyn, the franchise decided they needed a new mascot that could exude the city's aura.
The character of Ellie was inspired by the efforts of Barnum & Bailey Circus, P.T. Barnum, who marched 21 elephants and more than a dozen camels across the Brooklyn Bridge in 1884 amid fears of its sturdiness.
"We loved the element of the Brooklyn Bridge being a part of that story as we were making that transition from Manhattan to Brooklyn," Stephenson said.
Ellie's name is also short for Elephant and Ellis Island. Her crown is a nod to the Statue of Liberty. She doesn't wear bulky shoes like other mascots. Every aspect of her character embodies New York - from the famous landmarks to her style. Like the players, Ellie also serves looks in the tunnel and does sit-down interviews.
"Not a word was said, yet I understood everything," one user commented on the interview.
Ellie regularly wears hoop earrings and a Telfar shopping bag, a go-to for fashion "it girls" in the city. The braided ponytail adds to her originality. Her entire persona is from the minds of Black women.
"To see ourselves reflected in Ellie... is also really fun," Stephenson said. "Even giving Ellie lashes. That was intentional to show that she is a woman and femininity."
In one of the recent videos on her Instagram, which now has over 100,000 followers, the mascot shared her essentials for her travel bag for her trip to WNBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix. A makeup bag, a bonnet, accessories, and packs of braiding hair were non-negotiables.
"It's just those little nuances that are special and truly differentiate Ellie from any other mascot," Stephenson noted.
'MVP of mascots'
The basketball court is Ellie's stage. Dressed in all silver with a blonde wig, she recently went viral for her rendition of Beyonce's "Renaissance" for Pride Month.
"She's a performer. She's an artist. She's an entertainer," Stephenson said. " She takes on the personality of the women artists she embodies through her performances."
Ellie has been acknowledged by the icons she pays homage to. She danced beside the Queen Bee herself, Lil Kim, who performed her hit "Lighters Up" as the crowd cheered and sang every word during last season's playoff game.
"Whoever is Ellie the Elephant needs to get a raise immediately. She is by far the best mascot that the WNBA has," a fan said on TikTok. "I love basketball. I support a lot of teams. She is the only mascot that I truly know. She is the MVP of mascots."
As Ellie becomes more popular, fans wonder who is under the costume. However, the identity will continue to remain a mystery.
"The character was a mascot before we hired them to play Ellie, so they come from that world. They're also from Brooklyn," Stephenson hinted.
"A lot of what our fans relate to is someone who's truly from New York and understands the culture of the community so it's just very genuine and authentic."
Taylor is a Trending News Reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.
