June 1 saw the defending champions, the New York Liberty, cruise to a dominant 100-52 win over the Connecticut Sun, extending their undefeated streak to 7-0 in the 2025 regular season.
While Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart dazzled with 18 and 13 points, respectively, another star was celebrating a milestone of her own, and she did it in style.
New York Liberty’s Beloved Mascot Stunned the Fans in Style
The Liberty’s beloved mascot, Ellie the Elephant, better known as “Big Ellie,” turned five on Sunday.
Known for her larger-than-life presence and unmatched flair, Big Ellie took center stage during timeouts and halftime, charming fans with her iconic look: a slick pair of Nikes, a fashionable Telfar bag slung over her shoulder, a long flowing braid cascading down her back, and a custom Liberty jersey dress that screams team pride with a side of Brooklyn swag.
As the Liberty continued to dominate on the hardwood, it was clear that the celebration wasn’t just about the scoreboard. Fans at Barclays Center showed up not only to cheer on their team but to shower Big Ellie with birthday love. And she gave them a show to remember. During halftime, Big Ellie wowed the crowd with a high-energy dance routine that featured some of her favorite tracks, performed alongside the Liberty’s Lil’ Torches dance crew and a group of kids.
“The best mascot in the whole world. I have Australian people reaching out to me… It’s just so impactful. It’s just great entertainment. It starts with Ellie, and we have the Timeless Torches as well. Everyone is trying to be like Ellie,” said New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello about the mascot.
Happy 🎂 Day to Brooklyn’s sweetheart🗽👑 pic.twitter.com/Bjyzb1fnnR
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 1, 2025
Big Ellie was introduced to the Liberty family on May 6, 2021, a symbolic moment that came with the team’s ownership change and official move to Barclays Center. According to the team’s official website, an elephant was chosen to represent the Liberty because of its deep symbolism — strength, intelligence, perseverance, and dignity. Elephants also have a historical tie to Brooklyn, with the borough having a long cultural association with these gentle giants.
Now, coming to the game, Sunday night’s matchup was one of the most dominant performances in recent WNBA history.
New York exploded out of the gate and by halftime held a commanding 32-point lead. The gap widened even further in the second half, rocketing to a 57-point difference early in the fourth quarter, which was a deficit the Sun simply couldn’t recover from.
It Was a Record Night for the Liberty on Sunday
Big Ellie’s fifth birthday turned out to be nothing short of magical, and the New York Liberty made sure of it.
The Liberty secured their first victory in the Commissioner’s Cup this season, kicking off their campaign in the tournament with a bang. Not only did they notch an important win, but they also matched the best start to a season in franchise history, tying their record for the most successful opening stretch in a WNBA campaign.
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The night didn’t stop there.
In a display of sheer dominance, the Liberty stormed past the Sun with a win so commanding that it set a new standard for the franchise, the largest margin of victory (a 48-point blowout) the team has ever recorded.
With momentum fully on their side and an undefeated streak to protect, the Liberty look ahead to their next challenge. They’ll take on the Washington Mystics on June 5, aiming to keep their winning wave rolling.
