From Court to Catwalk: Ellie the Elephant’s Most Iconic Style Moments

I’ve never wanted to be anything more than I want to be Ellie the Elephant from the NY Liberty. She’s the epitome of that gworl and lowkey is responsible for the way the world has been going hard for the WNBA team.

We can’t go on without congratulating the NY Liberty team who made history this week. In a thrilling overtime game 5, the New York Liberty claimed their maiden WNBA championship, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62. This victory marked the first time the Liberty had won the title, despite being the only original WNBA franchise without one. Previously, they had lost in their five previous finals appearances, including last year’s championship round against the Las Vegas Aces.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, In 2021, the New York Liberty of the WNBA welcomed a new mascot, Ellie the Elephant. Big Ellie Liberty, as she is affectionately known by fans and in pop culture, replaced Maddie the dog, the team’s previous mascot. Ellie’s arrival coincided with a change in ownership and the team’s move to the Barclays Center.

Ellie, the elephant mascot, stands out for her distinct femininity, unlike most sports mascots. Out of the few female mascots, she is remarkably feminine with her braided hair, hoop earrings, and love for purses.

Bronx native and sportswear designer Gabe Stark was commissioned to create a set of custom jersey dresses earlier this year because she clearly deserves the custom life. He told Sports Illustrated, “Ellie’s femininity and New York authenticity are what make her iconic. You can’t think about Ellie without her silhouette, her hand on her hip.”

The fan favorite has a bevy of stylists, Criscia Long, Shenay Rivers and recently Harrison Crite joined the gang. We got to chat with Crite on his experience and what it means for him to be a part of these iconic moments. He told HB, “Honestly, I never thought my claim to fame would be dressing a mascot. In my career had clients attend Paris/Milan Fashion weeks, Awards shows in Africa and Cannes Film Festival to name a few, but nothing has compared to dressing Ellie. The impact Ellie is making has never been seen before. Not only is Ellie a superstar, but she represents the heartbeat of NY which is Lady Liberty. That within itself is rewarding. The impact Ellie is making and the things we are creating have never been witnessed before between a Mascot and Stylist. We are making HERstory.”

Ahead, find some of our favorite looks along with some gems from Crite who is also responsible for styling the likes of Tamron Hall and Queen Latifah.