New York Liberty Mascot Ellie the Elephant

Over the course of 2024, admiring New York Liberty mascot Ellie The Elephant went from a niche passion to a focal point during the team's WNBA title run. By the time Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Finals MVP Jonquel Jones were hoisting their trophy, it had long ago become de rigueur to also shower Ellie with requisite (and unrequited) love. Liberty games have evolved from nomadic and undefined into a star power-packed show, from tipoff to timeout, and Ellie's engrossing moves — as well as the over-40 dance troupe The Timeless Torches — have helped cement the WNBA champs as Brooklyn's finest organized sports spectacle.

Easily when Ellie was called out onto the steps of City Hall to stand alone after the Liberty had been presented keys to the city, performing an extravagant solo routine as Mayor Eric Adams looked on, contemplating jail.

The Liberty have evolved from “best-kept secret“ to “universally inspiring,“ and Ellie's emergence as a resonant cultural New York City touchstone has been a surprisingly fundamental piece of that rise. Young athletes want to be like Sabrina, but during timeouts, Ellie is nearly as fearless and confident.