Ellie the Elephant: Difference between revisions

When the ownership of the New York Liberty changed hands from [[James L. Dolan|James Dolan]] (owner of [[Madison Square Garden Sports|Madison Square Garden]] and the [[New York Knicks|NY Knicks]]) to [[Clara Wu Tsai]] and [[Joseph Tsai|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]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Covington |first=Abigail |date=2023-10-13 |title=Have You Ever Seen an Elephant Twerk? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/style/ellie-elephant-ny-liberty-wnba.html |access-date=2024-07-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Megdal |first=Howard |date=2021-05-06 |title=Passing the torch: First look at Ellie, new Liberty mascot |url=https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/passing-the-torch-first-look-at-ellie/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=The Next |language=en-US}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Covington |first=Abigail |date=2023-10-13 |title=Have You Ever Seen an Elephant Twerk? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/style/ellie-elephant-ny-liberty-wnba.html |access-date=2024-07-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> but they are a Brooklyn native. As a mascot, Ellie does not use her voice with to fans during games, or to the press durringduring interviews, <ref name=":0" /> but as of 2024 features first -person voiceover narration on her TikTok.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-14 |title=They Call Her Big Ellie: Meet the New York Liberty's viral mascot - ESPN Video |url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/40346197 |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite webnews |date=2024-09-22 |title=Sports mascots were very dude-coded. Then came Ellie the Elephant. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/09/22/ellie-elephant-liberty-new-york-wnba-mascots-basketball/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |websitenewspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}</ref> 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. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hurd |first=Sean |date=2024-06-14 |title=New York Liberty mascot Ellie brings Black creativity to WNBA |url=https://andscape.com/features/new-york-liberty-mascot-ellie-brings-black-creativity-to-wnba/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Andscape |language=en-US}}</ref> Ellie's personality reflects the Black and LatinX culture of Brooklyn, and the dominance of the team on the floor. Her creative team looked to New York hip-hop personalities for inspiration. The performer who embodies Ellie tried out at an open audition. <ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Hess |first=AJ |date=October 18, 2024 |title=The business of Ellie the Elephant, the WNBA's most valuable mascot |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91210856/the-business-of-ellie-the-elephant-the-wnbas-most-valuable-mascot |work=Fast Company}}</ref> Long and Rivers act as Ellie's Stylists, working with costumes Manager Alexis Leatherwood to customize her outfits with extras like Rhinestones or custom pieces. Ellie's purse has become a notable accessory, and she has brand deals with fashion houses like Telfar, Rare Breed, and [[UGG (brand)|UGG]]. The team has a special rate card for brand partnerships with Ellie, akin to the Influencerinfluencer deals in social media writ large. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Settembre |first=Jeanette |date=2024-08-27 |title=NY Liberty mascot Ellie has two stylists, big brands dressing her |url=https://nypost.com/2024/08/27/lifestyle/ny-liberty-mascot-ellie-has-two-stylists-big-brands-dressing-her/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, Ellie released her own colorway of the [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] Sabrina 2.<ref name=":2" />

[[File:Ellie The Elephant on June 3, 2021, during her debut season.png|alt=Ellie the Elephant's Character suit has evolved since her first season, when she featured oversized shoes and gloves, which were later swapped out for hands and footwear with better grip for dancing. The braid was also a later edition, where aswhereas her original hair was just a curl that wouldn't stay curled.|left|thumb|Ellie the Elephant's Character suit from her first season, Pictured here June 3, 2023]]

Ellie's Character suit was built by Randy Carfagno of Randy Carfagno Productions<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Sky Introduce New Mascot, Skye the Lioness – Chicago Sky |url=https://sky.wnba.com/news/chicago-sky-introduce-new-mascot-skye-the-lioness/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=sky.wnba.com}}</ref> In her first season, she had a hair bang and a typical mascot style shoes, with anatomically incorrect hand paws<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Dayna |date=2024-08-28 |title=The Best Party in New York Is Only Getting Bigger |url=https://www.thecut.com/article/wnba-liberty-games-best-crowd-party-new-york.html |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=The Cut |language=en}}</ref> Her suit has evolved towards a more danceable shoe with traction pads on her hand so that she is able to perform more advanced dance moves. These modifications were at the request of the performer. Her hair has gone from a simple curl to a floor-length, seafoam-infused braid. The 2024 season saw Ellie wearing into a Jersey Dress and a wide array of designer handbags and Nike shoes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Hannah |date=2024-10-14 |title=Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty's Mascot, Is Ready to Bring Home the WNBA Championship |url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/ellie-the-elephant-new-york-liberty-wnba-championship-diary |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref> She has "lush eyelashes" and she frequently incorporates wigs and advanced costume changes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-14 |title=They Call Her Big Ellie: Meet the New York Liberty's viral mascot - ESPN Video |url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/40346197 |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Ellie's escorts who hold her bag and support her during game day are called The StompahzStompaz. <ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Jackie |date=2024-07-03 |title=Ellie the Elephant waves, stomps and puts on the most entertaining show in Brooklyn |url=https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/ellie-the-elephant-waves-stomps-and-puts-on-the-most-entertaining-show-in-brooklyn/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=The Next |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Flavor Flav and Ellie The Elephant.png|thumb|Ellie the Elephant with [[Flavor Flav]] at the New York Liberty game on September 5, 2024|left]]

In addition to her court-side antics,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Camille |first=Jada |date=2024-09-24 |title=Ellie on the Aux: The pump-up playlist behind NY Liberty’sLiberty's viral mascot • Brooklyn Paper |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/ellie-the-elephant-pump-up-playlist/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=www.brooklynpaper.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and dance moves she is famous for,<ref name=":1" />, 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.<ref name="auto"/> <ref name=":1" />Her skillfulness at [[twerking]] and throwing ass havehas been noted in [[the New York Times]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Samantha |date=2024-05-02 |title=The New York Liberty’sLiberty's Twerking Elephant Mascot Is My New Gay Obsession |url=https://www.them.us/story/new-york-liberty-mascot-ellie-the-elephant-twerking |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Them |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-16 |title=How Do You Dress an Elephant? One Fit at a Time |url=https://www.si.com/wnba/liberty-mascot-ellie-the-elephant-new-york-fashion |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ellie has performed notable halftime tributes to such artists as [[Lil' Kim|Lil Kim]], [[Missy Elliott|Missy Elliot]], [[Beyoncé|Beyonce]], [[Tyga]], [[Mary J. Blige|Mary J Blige]], and others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Lil Ellie-Kim, Elliyoncé and more of Ellie the Elephant's best moments |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/40446242/new-york-liberty-mascot-ellie-elephant-best-moments |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

[[Category:SportsBasketball mascots]]

[[Category:FictionalElephant elephantsmascots]]

[[Category:Anthropomorphic mammalselephants]]