Who is Ellie the Elephant? Meet Liberty mascot that has captured the hearts of WNBA fans

Daniel Chavkin

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Who is Ellie the Elephant? Meet Liberty mascot that has captured the hearts of WNBA fans image

As the Liberty prepare to return to the WNBA Finals for the second consecutive year, the players aren't the  only members of the organization ready for the national spotlight.

Ellie the Elephant, New York's famous mascot, will no doubt be a key part of the festivities as the Liberty host Game 1 against the Minnesota Lynx on the Thursday night.

The team logo features a torch — a clear nod to the Statue of Liberty, much like the team's name and its seafoam green color — so why an elephant for the mascot? With the Liberty calling Brooklyn home, the mascot pays homage to an iconic piece of New York City lore. Learn more about Ellie the Elephant and her origin story below. 

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Who is Ellie the Elephant?

The Liberty first introduced Ellie the Elephant as the team's mascot in 2021. The decision coincided with the team's ownership change and move, as Knicks owned James Dolan sold the team to Nets owner Joe Tsai before the 2021 season, meaning the Liberty started playing its home games in the Barclays Center.

When deciding what its mascot should be, the Liberty chose an elephant because of a unique connection to New York City. In May 1884, P.T. Barnum marched 21 circus elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge to prove its "strength and safety," and that story has since become ingrained in the history of the city.

How did Ellie the Elephant get her name

Ellie is named after Ellis Island, the unique New York landmark where immigrants would stop before officially getting to America. Ellie also sports a Statue of Liberty crown, continuing to represent many aspects of the Liberty's home city.

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Ellie the Elephant dances

Ellie is most known for her mid-game dances, as she adds an element to Liberty games that go beyond basketball. Ellie consistently goes viral with creative social media posts and exciting dance numbers.

Ellie had a taste of the WNBA Finals when the Liberty played the Aces in 2023, but Las Vegas won that series, not New York. The Liberty mascot surely has something special planned if New York wins its first ever WNBA title this year. 

Daniel Chavkin

Daniel Chavkin Photo

Daniel Chavkin is a Digital Content Producer for The Sporting News. A 2018 graduate from the University of Maryland, he has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and NFLTradeRumors.com.