New York Liberty has reached new heights of fandom not only because of the team’s winning record, but also for their sensational mascot Ellie, and the all-Black female team who lead the organization. Liberty CEO Keia Clark was the one who came up with the idea of Ellie the Elephant, who is one of only three female-identifying mascots in the WNBA. Ellie has famously become a viral sensation and one of the most beloved mascots across all professional sports. In addition to Keia Clark, the creative team behind Ellie also includes Criscia Long, Liberty’s Senior Director of Entertainment, and Shana Stephenson, Chief Brand Officer. Says Stephenson of the all-Black team behind the Liberty and Ellie: “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.”
Following their historic win, some are already calling New York Liberty favorites to win the championship again next year. The next WNBA season will start in May 2025, with all the Liberty home games played at Barclays Center. Tickets generally start at $35/person.
Updated: October 25, 2024.
