The New York Liberty mascot turns the Tunnel Walk into his own runway.
Elephant Ellie was already known for twerking, Ashanti scooting and flicking her braids to the music of Mary J. Blige and Lil' Kim during games, but this season she's entered a fashion league of her own, delighting her 160,000 TikTok followers with some very sassy “get ready with me” videos and showing up to games in exclusive designer wear.
Like a true celebrity, Ellie has her own personal stylists — in fact, two of them are known as her “aunties” on social media: Krissia Long and Shenae Rivers.
For the team's first home game at Barclays Center in May, Ellie was dressed in a turquoise Liberty jersey dress from premium sportswear brand Rare Breed BX, paired with a shearling-lined suede bag from Telfar x UGG.
Fans were thrilled to see the mascot strutting around carrying the $420 bag, and “that's when we realized, 'Wait, we're doing something bigger than we ever imagined,'” Long said.
Now designers are keen to collaborate with Ellie, proving brand deals aren't just for athletes.
New York-based artist Nina Chanel Abney has partnered with Nike's Air Jordan and has chosen Ellie as her muse to create a pachyderm. Custom Liberty Jordan Jersey Dress Pair it with turquoise Jordan sneakers.
But Long and Rivers also buy Ellie's outfits off the rack from stores like H&M and Forever 21, and sometimes work with wardrobe manager Alexis Leatherwood to embellish the outfits with studs and rhinestones.
There are some unique challenges, like modifying pants to fit the tail.
“On game day, our costume team will be arranging the costumes. They weren't originally made for this. We'll arrange for the hair and clothing to be appropriate for the performers to go on stage and perform,” Long said.
Ellie agreed to model some of her favorite looks for The Washington Post, including a Liberty Ice Cream hoodie, a silver-studded Forever 21 jacket, a hot pink bag by the brand Hello Ditto and Nike Sabrina sneakers.
Sportier looks included a white jersey dress designed by Gabe Stark of Rare Breed BX.
The handbag-loving mascot also had a $265 Kalika basketball handbag. (She Barclays security guard hired as wallet attendant She's shaking her ass.
Ellie's hair – multi-coloured braids made from human hair – is always a consideration too.
“We go to the hair shop and buy her hair, and we change the braids for every match,” Long said, “and sometimes we have to change them from rehearsal to match. We take about 30 minutes to an hour to make sure her hair is nice.”
While the feisty dancer behind the costume is being kept a closely guarded secret, Long said the Brooklyn native loved adding her own touch to Ellie's look and requested custom hoop earrings to match her floppy elephant ears.
Shanna Stevenson, chief brand officer at New York Liberty, told The Post that the team considers Ellie as an influencer when negotiating brand deals and partnerships.
“We’ve created a rate card specifically for Erie, and we recognize the opportunity and profitability that Erie has as an asset for New York Liberty,” Stevenson said. “We’ve turned down some opportunities.
“Brands are constantly reaching out to us. Ellie is very much seen as a social media influencer and just like influencers get paid to post certain things, we've been looking for ways to do that with Ellie.”
Singer Ciara invited Ellie to perform “Drop Your Love” at her concert at Barclays Center earlier this month, with just 24 hours' notice.
“she [Ciara] “I really felt like a fan,” Stevenson told the Post.
She's not the only one.
“Have I ever watched a WNBA game? No….Do I like Ellie? Yes!” one fan commented on TikTok.
“I would seriously fly across the country to see Ellie and watch a Liberty game,” another user wrote.
Stevenson admitted that Ellie has made some fashion faux pas, but she's such a professional you wouldn't know it.
“There were times when the braid got a little out of place, but Ellie was able to turn it around quickly.”
