Turning 30 is a big deal, and the New York Liberty—along with Ellie the Elephant—kept that in mind when planning how to celebrate the team’s 30th season in the WNBA. All eyes were on the team to start strong with a win (which they did!), but also on their beloved mascot, Ellie. Her halftime performances have become a major highlight for Liberty fans and people online, so the team knew they had to go all out. And nothing says legendary quite like a tribute to the late, great Whitney Houston.
Choosing to create a performance inspired by the true diva was a respectful nod to Houston’s connection to the New York Liberty, which goes back to another major milestone for the team and the league. “We wanted Ellie’s first halftime performance of the season to feel both nostalgic and distinctly New York,” says Criscia Long, senior director of entertainment at Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “That led us back to the very first WNBA All-Star Game in 1999, hosted by the Liberty, where Whitney Houston gave an iconic National Anthem performance.”
“When I think of Whitney, I think of legacy,” Ellie the Elephant tells Vogue. “So many people have been inspired by her presence and performances. She has raised generations of singers through her timeless art. I hope to have a legacy that shows that same level of confidence, originality, and inspiration.”
Photo: Marcus Stevens / ESPN Images
Training to Be Ellie Houston
The performance has been in the works for months, with Ellie deep in rehearsals and training to build her stamina for halftime. Her workout routine mostly involved running a few miles every day for cardio, with a Whitney playlist queued up on Spotify. While the rehearsals were physically demanding, they also required a lot of mental preparation from Ellie and her team. “I’ve studied everything: her vocals, her movement, her energy, her presence,” Ellie says. “I spent hours watching her performances and interviews, making sure every detail feels authentic.” This is even more impressive considering Ellie… is an elephant.
Narrowing down Whitney Houston’s vast catalog to just five minutes was no easy task either. Long and her team worked with DJ Jay Jung to create a tight set list of hits. What started as a mashup of 15 songs from her career was cut down to six energetic tracks: “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “How Will I Know,” “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” “I’m Every Woman,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” “We had to be intentional about pacing,” says Long. “We balanced big vocal moments with high-energy sections to keep the performance dynamic from start to finish.”
To match the set list, Long, Ellie, and the rest of the styling team created a visual world that was just as dazzling. Using four iconic Whitney Houston pop culture moments as inspiration, the team designed four new costumes for Ellie to wear during the halftime show.
Photo: Marcus Stevens / ESPN Images
The Whitney Transformation
Before the game even starts, Ellie heads down to the players’ tunnel to show off her new look. Inspired by Houston’s performance of “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” at the 1998 Brit Awards, Ellie wore a sleek black leather gown and debuted a new wig: the Whitney Bob, which Ellie describes as “full of drama.”
“Whitney stepped into her power with that look, and I love moments that challenge expectations,” she says. To complete the look, Ellie carried a sleek black Tabby Coach bag and oversized yellow-lensed shades from Sunglass Hut—two of the team’s new sponsors. “Now we’re not just honoring Whitney, we’re stepping into full diva mode.” As an added bonus, the first track happens to be Ellie’s favorite Whitney song. “Every time I hear that song, I act a fool,” she says. “I love that song so much.”
Also inspired by Houston’s National Anthem performance 30 years ago, the wig was soft, rounded, and voluminous.It was a classic Whitney look that immediately told the audience what to expect. “The most important thing was that the wig felt alive,” she says. “It needed movement, bounce, and presence—something that really brings Whitney’s mannerisms to life on stage.”
“It’s bold and grabs attention,” Ellie adds.
Ellie also showed off a fresh set of nails. Using Essie’s new shade Mint Candy Apple, the seafoam green perfectly matched the team’s new Court Origins jersey. “[It] ties together every era of the Liberty,” says Long.
Ellie the Elephant sports a minty fresh Essie manicure to match the Liberty team colors.
Photo: Basim Horshaw / New York Liberty
“I talk a lot with my hands, so I know your manicure speaks before you even say a word,” Ellie adds. “Whether it’s subtle or makes a statement, make [your nails] you. And most importantly, keep them fresh. A clean, intentional manicure will Ellie-vate any look!” (A phrase Ellie and the team use often.)
Moving on to halftime, the opening look was a nod to the scarlet red tracksuit Houston wore at the WNBA All-Star game when she sang the National Anthem. Long says it was important to start the halftime show with a moment that meant so much to the franchise and the league. “That moment is the emotional and historical anchor of the show, so it was important to recreate it in a way that’s instantly recognizable,” she says. “We created an Ellie-vated version, enhanced for center court.”
Next came a black leather corset paired with a black wrap skirt, referencing Houston’s monochromatic fashion in “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.” Ellie quickly changed into this outfit live in front of the crowd, then switched to a silver gown inspired by the pop star’s performances at the Grammys. Houston, a six-time Grammy winner, has many iconic looks (who could forget the Bob Mackie gown she wore when she won three Grammys, including Album of the Year, in 1994?), and this outfit change represented what she calls a “true diva moment.”
And then, the finale look. This was the climactic end to the set that required the most energy, and there’s no better song to get people on their feet than “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Ellie wore a silver mini-dress with arm bands. “It captures the joy, confidence, and forward momentum of both Whitney’s legacy and the Liberty as they celebrate 30 years and look ahead to what’s next,” Ellie says.
Photo: Marcus Stevens / ESPN Images
Post-Game Ritual
Post-game is usually all about recovery for Ellie. After checking in with the team and celebrating the night, you can find her at home doing all the wellness things: stretching, an ice bath, and snacking on something high-protein. And while she’s already getting ready for the next game day, this halftime performance will always be one to remember. “[It’s] about honoring [Whitney’s] legacy the only way I know how: leaving it all out on the stage,” says Ellie. “Just as she always did.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Diva Mode and Ellie the Elephants performance at the New York Liberty season opener
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is Diva Mode
Diva Mode is a playful highenergy persona that Ellie the Elephant adopts It means she performs with overthetop confidence dramatic flair and powerhouse vocalslike a pop star
2 Why is Ellie compared to Whitney Houston
During the season opener Ellie performed a lipsync or live vocal performance of a Whitney Houston classic Her powerful delivery emotional range and showstopping stage presence reminded fans of Whitneys iconic diva style
3 Was Ellie actually singing or lipsyncing
Most mascot performances are carefully choreographed lipsyncs to prerecorded tracks Its part of the theatrical show not a real vocal performancebut the emotion and energy are 100 real
4 Is this a regular thing for Ellie
No Diva Mode is a special occasional actusually saved for big games like season openers playoffs or themed nights Its a surprise treat for fans
5 Was the whole crowd into it
Yes The performance went viral on social media Fans waved lighters sang along and gave a standing ovation It was a unifying joyful moment
Advanced BehindtheScenes Questions
6 How do they make a mascot sing so convincingly
The mascot handler uses a hidden microphone and speaker system inside the costume The performer matches the songs timing with exaggerated mouth movements and body language synced to a highquality audio track
7 What song did Ellie actually perform
For the 2024 season opener Ellie performed a mashup of Whitney Houstons I Wanna Dance with Somebody and I Will Always Love You The set included a key change a dramatic drop to her knees and a final high note
8 Does the mascot performer have to be a trained dancer
Yes The performer inside Ellies costume must have strong dance skills stamina and the ability