It’s Not Easy Being a Hot Girl Mascot: “Ellie Is Running Miles Before Game Days”

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Ellie the Elephant is not your average sideline entertainment. The New York Liberty’s mascot-slash-curator-of-culture is a social media It girl and has gained notoriety for her captivating performances, incredible fashion sense, and TikTok stardom — often hopping on trends before us basic humans can even catch up.

At any Liberty game, you can catch, Ellie, named after Ellis Island, serving looks (Telfar bag in hand), killer moves, and good vibes. She unapologetically embodies so much of Black culture and Brooklyn energy. The anthropomorphized icon can often be spotted rocking a knee- or floor-length ponytail, gold hoops, and fresh Air Jordans — all while sexy walking or whining down the court.

But what does it take to make this mascot come to life and how does Ellie prepare for game days? It turns out there’s a whole team behind Ellie the Elephant, headed up by Criscia Long, the senior director of entertainment for the Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, and NY Liberty. Long, who’s often referred to Ellie’s “auntie,” serves as the mascot’s director, confidant, stylist, and partner in swag, helping to curate Ellie’s vibe for game days, performances, and appearances.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun with it, developing this character and making her authentic,” Long tells PS in an interview. The goal with Ellie was always “celebrating our culture” she adds. But it’s not all fun and games. Ellie is on a schedule, practicing alongside the Liberty’s dance teams — and undertaking just as vigorous a workout. “Ellie’s routine is just like any other athlete,” Long says, telling PS that she prioritizes cross-training as well as dance drills. “Ellie is running miles before game days to really make sure that her endurance is where it needs to be,” Long says. The time commitment is real, with Long saying that “we’re devoting at least 10 hours of rehearsal to each performance,” especially if there’s a halftime show.

On top of that, Ellie has pre-game interviews, photos, tunnel walks, and meet-and-greets to attend to. But despite her packed schedule, she fit in an interview with PS just hours before game 1 of the WNBA finals. During the behind-the-scenes talk, she treated us to her five favorite dances — and yes, one of them is the “Ellie Stomp,” a signature move you’ll see her do every game.

Ellie also takes an active part in the creative process that goes into building her persona and performances, Long says. The mascot often sits down at the table to brainstorm the character’s mannerisms or attitude for an upcoming event. “Ellie wants to make sure that the character comes to life correctly in whatever it is that we’re trying to portray. So her opinion always matters,” Long says.

And while there’s a team that runs the TikTok account, Ellie is heavily involved in what gets posted. Those viral voiceovers are coming straight from Ellie’s brain, as are the responses to fans. “Whenever there’s a response in the comments, it’s coming from Ellie,” Long tells PS.

When asked what’s next for Big Ellie, Long says the possibilities are endless. She’s surprised every single day by the reach Ellie has, calling her a “direct liaison to the fans.” From motivational speaking to Time Out cover star — “it is so cool to be able to use creativity in this way and not know what’s next, but know that we’re able to use our brains and create magic every time,” Long says.

Alexis Jones is the senior health and fitness editor at PS. Her passions and areas of expertise include women’s health and fitness, mental health, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women’s Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.