Turning 30 is a major milestone, something that the New York Liberty and Ellie the Elephant kept in mind when brainstorming ways to celebrate its 30th season in the WNBA. All eyes would not only be on the team to start the season strong with a win (which they did!), but also, on its beloved mascot Ellie. Ellie’s half-time show performances have become a marquee event for Liberty fans—and everyone else online—so the team had to go big. And nothing says legendary quite like an ode to the late, great Whitney Houston.

Deciding to create a performance inspired by the true diva was a reverant nod to Houston’s ties to the New York Liberty, which go way back to another major milestone for the team and the WNBA. “We wanted to anchor Ellie’s first half-time performance of the season in something that felt both nostalgic and distinctly New York,” says Criscia Long, senior director of entertainment at Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, “which led us back to the very first WNBA All-Star Game [in 1999], hosted by the Liberty, where Whitney Houston delivered an iconic National Anthem performance.”

“When I think of Whitney, I think of legacy,” Ellie the Elephant tells Vogue. “So many have been inspired by her presence and performance. She’s raised several generations of vocalists through her eternal art. I strive to have a legacy that exudes that level of confidence, originality, and inspiration.”

Training to Be Ellie Houston

The performance has been months in the making, with Ellie deep in rehearsals and training to get her stamina half-time ready. Ellie’s workout regimen mostly included running a few miles every day (a Whitney playlist was queued up on Spotify) for cardio. While rehearsals were physically intense, they also demanded a lot of mental preparation from Ellie and her team. “I’ve studied everything: [Whitney’s] vocals, her movement, her energy, her presence,” Ellie says. “I spent hours immersed in her performances and interviews, making sure every detail feels authentic.” An even more impressive athletic feat, considering Ellie…is an elephant.

Narrowing down the great Whitney Houston catalog to just five minutes was no easy task, either. Long and her team worked with DJ Jay Jung to create a tight, hits-spanning set list. What started out as a mashup of 15 career-traversing songs was cut down to an energetic six—“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. “Balancing 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 Whitney Houston pop culture moments as a reference point, the team reimagined four new costumes for Ellie to wear during the half-time show.

The Whitney Transformation

Before the game even starts, Ellie makes her way down to the players’s tunnel to show off her new fit. Inspired by Houston’s performance of “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” at the 1998 Brit Awards, Ellie sported 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 do that, Ellie toted a sleek black Tabby Coach bag and oversized yellow-lensed shades she picked up from Sunglass Hut. (Two of team’s brand new sponsors.) “ Now we’re not just honoring Whitney, we’re stepping into full diva mode.” And 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 clued the audience in. “The most important thing was that the wig had life,” she says. “It needed movement, bounce, and presence—something that really helps bring Whitney’s mannerisms to life on stage.”

“It’s bold and commands attention,” Ellie adds.

Ellie also sported a fresh new set of nails. Using Essie’s fresh shade Mint Candy Apple, the seafoam green was the perfect complement to the team’s new Court Origins jersey. “[It] ties together every era of the Liberty," says Long.

“I do a lot of talking with my hands, so I know that your manicure speaks before you even say a word,” adds Ellie. “Whether it’s subtle or statement-making, make [your nails] you. And most importantly, keep them fresh. A clean, intentional manicure will Ellie-vate any look!” (A descriptor Ellie and the team use a lot.)

Moving on to half-time, the opening look was a nod to the scarlet red tracksuit Houston wore at the WNBA All-Star game where she sang the National Anthem. Long says that it was important to begin the half-time show with a moment that meant so much to the franchise and 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 was a black leather corset paired with a black wrap skirt that referenced Houston’s monochromatic fashion in “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.” Ellie quickly transitioned into this outfit live in front of the crowd, and then changed into a silver gown inspired by all of the pop star’s performances at the Grammys. Houston, a six-time Grammy award winner, has many pop culture-defining looks (who could forget the Bob Mackie gown she wore when she won three Grammys, including Album of the Year, in 1994?), and this particular 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 dressed in a silver mini-dress with arm bands. “It captures the joy, confidence, and forward momentum of both Whitney’s legacy and Liberty as they celebrate 30 years and look ahead to what’s next,” Ellie says.

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 gearing up for the next game day, this half-time 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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