New York Liberty mascot Ellie brings Black creativity to WNBA

For decades, mascots have been an integral part of any pro sports fan’s game-day experience. Some mascots have even become synonymous with their franchises, from Benny the Bull in the NBA to the Phillie Phanatic in MLB or Gritty in the NHL.

Few, however, put on a show like Ellie the Elephant, the mascot for the New York Liberty, which has evolved into a social media sensation.

She dances alongside artists such as rapper Lil’ Kim, gets social media shout-outs from rapper Cardi B, rocks a braid and hoop earrings and owns any runway she graces. Her nickname is Big Ellie.

In 2021, after moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn, the Liberty introduced Ellie as its new mascot. Ellie has become a staple at Liberty home games and arguably one of the most popular mascots in all of pro sports.

“The cultural phenomenon that Ellie has become today definitely exceeded our expectations,” Liberty chief brand officer Shana Stephenson said. “She’s become such an integral part of our game-day experience that the energy and atmosphere within our game I don’t think would be the same without Ellie.”

The creative team behind Ellie is composed of three Black women: Liberty CEO Keia Clarke, who came up with the idea to have Ellie be an elephant; Criscia Long, the Liberty’s senior director of entertainment, who brings Ellie’s game-day performances to life; and Stephenson, who oversees Ellie’s development.

“Black women are just dope. We are the purveyors of culture. We literally create culture,” Stephenson said about the significance of Ellie having an all-Black creative team. “The idea of having these Black women work together for a professional women’s basketball team, it’s unique.

“The WNBA is a league of mostly Black women, so we are a reflection of the players in the league, on the court, the women in the community, and that’s something that’s really important to this organization. … When we were thinking about Ellie, it was never a doubt that the characteristics of Ellie would also represent that.”

Stephenson, and Ellie, sat down with Andscape for an interview about Ellie’s origin, her rise to mascot stardom and the significance of her presence in the WNBA.