Athletes around the world have massive fan bases. Similar to the players, there are several beloved sports team mascots with followings of their own. The New York Liberty’s Ellie The Elephant has become the WNBA’s latest breakout star.
It was clear Ellie received the silver dress code notice, as the sassy elephant was rolled onto center court dressed in a mockup of Beyoncé’s tour look. With her own Renaissance World Tour dancers, Ellie slayed the mashup of “Move” featuring Grace Jones and Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body” with hints of “Formation.”
Users online raved about the Halftime performance. Many even joked that a floral arrangement from Beyoncé would arrive at the arena soon. Ellie welcomed the idea, writing, “If this happened, tears just might fall .”
— Ellie The Elephant (@BigEllieLiberty) June 23, 2024
Ellie’s Beyhive-certified tribute stated well before see hit the Barclays Center’s floor. In a clip shared to Ellie’s official X (formerly Twitter) profile she is seen Sasha Fiercly stomping across the Snipes pre-game carpet in another Beyoncé-inspired outfit with a hand fan made up of the Renaissance cover art.
Breanna Stewart, a prevalent force in women’s basketball, has earned acclaim for her exceptional skill and versatility on the court. Since her collegiate days at the University of Connecticut, where she achieved unprecedented success, Stewart has risen to become one of the most influential players in the WNBA. As of 2024, her achievements in basketball, including numerous titles and MVP awards, have contributed to a net worth of $5 million, according to Clutch Points. This figure signifies her financial success and her profound influence and stature in the sport.
Career Highlights: A Record-Setting Journey
PALMETTO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 02: Breanna Stewart #30 of the Seattle Storm is interviewed after a 93-80 win. Over the Las Vegas Aces following Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Feld Entertainment Center on October 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Record-breaking achievements and accolades mark Stewart’s basketball journey. At UConn, she led her team to four consecutive NCAA championships, a feat unmatched in collegiate basketball history. Transitioning to the WNBA, Stewart continued her winning ways with the Seattle Storm, capturing championships and earning MVP honors. Her international career includes her contributions to Team USA in the Olympics. This further solidified her status as one of the premier players in women’s basketball.
Beyond The Court: Advocacy & Leadership
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 01: Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, A’Ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu. Of the United States Team USA celebrate winning the Gold Medal. During the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Final match between USA and China. At Sydney Superdome, on October 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Apart from her on-court triumphs, Stewart’s role extends to advocacy and leadership. She has been vocal about gender equality in sports and social justice, using her platform to bring attention to important causes. Stewart’s off-court endeavors, including her involvement in various charitable initiatives, reflect her commitment to making a positive impact beyond basketball.
Personal Life: Resilience & Growth
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 14: Breanna Stewart #30 of Team Stewart smiles during a WNBA All-Star Game team practice at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Stewart’s resilience in the face of challenges, including her recovery from a significant injury, has been inspirational in her personal life. Her journey, characterized by her determination to overcome obstacles and excel at the highest level, has made her a role model for aspiring athletes. Stewart’s experiences have shaped her into a more rounded and influential figure in the world of sports.
Legacy & Influence: Redefining Women’s Basketball
SAITAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 08: Breanna Stewart #10 of Team United States bites her gold medal during the Women’s Basketball medal ceremony on day sixteen of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games at Saitama Super Arena on August 08, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Reflecting on Breanna Stewart’s $5 million net worth in 2024, her career is a testament to her status as a transformative player in women’s basketball. Her achievements, both in the US and internationally, have not only garnered personal accolades but also contributed to the growth and popularity of the sport. Stewart’s legacy in basketball is one of excellence, leadership, and a relentless pursuit of greatness.
With a 70-69 road victory, the Las Vegas Aces secured their second WNBA title in as many seasons. After a double-digit loss in Game 3, the Aces bounced back to take a one-point win in front of a hostile and sold-out New York home crowd. A’ja Wilson had a game-high 24 points as injuries to key starters limited the Aces’ dominance but did not relegate them to silver scrapes. With the win, the Aces became the first team since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks to win back-to-back titles. They were also the first defending champions to even make the Finals since the Sparks in 2017.
“This one’s sweeter. It just is. It’s harder to do,” head coach Becky Hammon said after the game. “This is what it’s all about, to have your name etched in history right now with other teams. We never gave up, and this is a moment that we need to celebrate. This is a moment that not a lot of people get a chance to do it, and for us to do it shorthanded, it is truly amazing. It just makes winning that much better,” Wilson, who was named Finals MVP, added.
The Aces became just the third franchise in league history to win back-to-back titles. What’s more, they did over the one team that was seen as having the ability to stop them. The New York Liberty went all-in in the offseason, amassing talent to build a 2023 superteam that broke the scales of the league. Betting markers weren’t for individual teams – it was Aces/Liberty or literally any other team in the league for champion odds.
But come the best-of-five finals, they Aces showed up the Liberty at every turn. They raced out to a 2-0 lead, including a 28-point blowout in Game 2. The Liberty hit back on their homecourt in Game 3 as the Aces lost key players in Kiah Stokes and Chelsea Gray to injury. Veteran Candance Parker was already out with an injury. And yet, the Aces persevered. After the Liberty dropped 23 in the first quarter, they didn’t surpass 18 points in a quarter for the rest of the game. It was a tough-fought win, but it was a win all the same. Now the Aces can turn to the much-vaunted three-peat, something that hasn’t been seen in the WNBA since it’s very first years in existence.
Cardi B said the “Bongos” challenge video featuring New York Liberty mascot Ellie “put me to shame” as the rapper happily gave her flowers to the elephant. The video that saw Ellie do the viral dance trend came after the Liberty kept themselves alive in the WNBA Finals, taking Game 3 87-73 to earn their first win of the best-of-five.
“Bongos” was the late summer collab between Cardi and Megan Thee Stallion, marking a high-octane reunion for the duo behind “WAP”. The song peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sparked a TikTok trend. Furthermore, it sparked a wave of celebration amongst Cardi’s fans as it surpassed Nicki Minaj’s “Last Time I Saw You” in terms of charting success.
Hopefully, Ellie’s dancing can propel the Liberty to another win as they look to tie up the series. The Liberty trail 2-1 after the Aces opened the series with back-to-back decisive wins. Working in favor of the Liberty is several major injuries for the Aces. Both Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes are suffering foot injuries with no clear timeline for their return. While coach Becky Hammon was reluctant to speak on the situation, Gray is likely to be done for the season while Stokes could return for a potential Game 5.
However, the Aces remained calm and collected in the face of the significant losses. “We do have people that can step up. Even though Chels isn’t on the floor, you guys will see her drawing on the board in timeouts and just being a voice for us. I’ll be looking over at the bench at her, just seeing whatever reads she seeing. She will be talking to me a lot. So she’ll still have a big impact,” guard Jackie Young said. “What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is Chelsea’s leadership. Her decision-making, her making big plays on offense and defense. It’s really tough. But we’re not a traditional team in that the fluidity of the way we play with multiple guards helps us. But it’s going to be about the whole team elevating themselves for the game,” added Kelsey Plum.
The WNBA Finals matchup we all have wanted is officially set. The Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty are set to clash in what will be an epic five-game series. The WNBA Finals will kick off on Oct. 8.
The series was made official with the New York Liebrty’s series-clinching an 87-84 win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The win closed out the series 3-1.
The WNBA Finals will be a matchup of Superteams, bringing three league MVPs, five first-round draft picks, and several WNBA All-Stars together across the two teams. Liberty Coach Sandy Brondello isn’t specifically fond of the Super Team title.
“I didn’t particularly like the superteam thing,” Brondello said to ESPN. “it’s going to be a great series and it’s a promotion for the WNBA, isn’t it? It’s New York, we haven’t done it for so long, but we’re playing the champions from last year. I think it’s going to be a really competitive series and hopefully more and more people turn their eyes into the game and we can continue to grow it.”
In Sunday’s game, the league MVP, Breanna Stewart, dropped 27 points and nine rebounds. Jonquel Jones added 25 points and 15 rebounds. Betnija Laney added 21 points.
On Friday, the Aces punched their return ticket to the Finals and continued their title defense by sweeping the Dallas Wings 3-0 behind the strong play of A’Ja Wilson.
Jordan Brand proudly introduces WNBA New York Liberty player Stefanie Dolson to its esteemed family. This exciting addition reflects the brand’s commitment to pushing boundaries, inspiring, and elevating the game. Join us in welcoming Stefanie Dolson as she embarks on this journey with Jordan Brand.
“Big dreams, big energy, big things to come,” Jordan brand wrote on Instagram. “The dominant center adds the title of Jordan Family member to her star studded resume. Welcome to the Family, @bigmamastef.”
The New York Liberty seems to be on a collision course with the Las Vegas Aces. Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and company ousted their first-round opponent, the Washington Mystics, on Tuesday night, 90-85, completing a two-game sweep.
The game went into overtime, sparked by center Jonquel Jones’ clutch rebounds and two free throws at the end of regulation. Overtime had too much Breanna Stewart for the Mystics to hold on.
Stewart led the Liberty with 27 points and nine rebounds. Jones added 19 points and 14 rebounds. While swing guard Betnijah Laney added another 19 points. Natasha Cloud led the Mystics in scoring with 33 points. Two-time league MVP Elena Delle Donne had 11 points but only shot 4-16, including 0-6, from the field.
“That’s the beauty of this team. It’s pick your poison every single night,” Ionescu said to ESPN. “And as long as we can continue to stay together and win, that’s why we’re all here, is to play unselfish basketball.”
The Liberty now await the winner of the last first-round series between the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx, who play a decisive game 3 on Wednesday (Sept. 20).
Stewart joins the Liberty after winning two championships in seven seasons and leading the league in scoring with 21.8 points per game.
“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions for sure, and I decided to go to New York because I want to continue to be great,” Stewart said to ESPN. “I want to go to the place where I can continue to help this league become better, to continue to raise the standard.
“I feel like, why not go to the biggest market in all of sports, and I’m really excited to go after their first championship.”
The WNBA arms race is underway, and a former MVP is the first domino to fall. The Connecticut Sun have traded 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty in a three-team deal.
According to ESPN, Jones requested a trade to New York after exploring deals with other teams.
Completing the trade, Rebecca Allen and Natasha Howard will be moved to the Connecticut Sun and the Dallas Wings, respectively, from New York. The Wings will also obtain Crystal Dangerfield’s Liberty rights and will send Kayla Thornton to New York and Ty Harris to Connecticut. The Sun’s also secure the Liberty’s No. 6 pick in this year’s drafts.
Jones will now be paired with hoops phenom Sabina Ionescu. The Liberty is still rumored to chase Breanna Stewart in free agency.
With Jones moving to the Liberty, the Sun will now aim to give the core designation to Brionna Jones, making her the key centerpiece of the team and snatching her off the free agent market. Brionna Jones, a 6-foot-3 forward and two-time All-Star, won Most Improved in 2021 and Sixth Woman of the Year in 2022.
The WNBA levied a $500,000 fine against the New York Liberty for their repeated use of charter flights over the back end of the season, an issue that has been at its boiling point for the past few years.
Last season, the New York Liberty, led by new owners Joe and Clara Tsai, decided to push those boundaries by paying for chartered flights anyway, according to Sports Illustrated‘s Howard Megdal. After they were caught, a furious league office proposed massive penalties, including a $1 million fine, substantial loss of draft picks and possibly even “termination of the franchise.”
So the WNBA doesn’t want their owners to charter flights for their respective teams seems very backwards in thinking. The WNBPA seems to think it’s backwards also.
In February, the WNBA announced a $75 million capital raise from investors to help address some of these problems. “It’s really important that the players know this is investment in them, even though it’s in the league and not a specific team or just specific players,” Engelbert said. “It’s to help grow our revenue streams and produce sustainable long-term growth.”
The Liberty are one of the WNBA’s eight founding franchises. They are one of three (Sparks, Mercury) still remaining as the league enters its 26th season in 2022. A fourth, the Utah Starzz, is currently the Las Vegas Aces.
By coming after the Liberty’s ownership, the WNBA seems to be moving backwards on the very promise they made to their players.
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