“His clowning and jumping over there keeps me going.” That’s Courtney Williams talking about her dad, Donald Williams, who has always been her loudest cheerleader. After Minnesota Lynx’s thrilling Game 4 win that pushed the series to a decisive Game 5, Don took his support to a whole new level, targeting the New York Liberty’s mascot, Ellie. 

After the game ended, “Tell that peanut head elephant [Ellie] we coming to New York,” he shouted. You could see Don bouncing up and down as he danced and celebrated. He had everyone around him buzzing with laughter. 

This playful banter comes on the heels of a game that was a do-or-die for the Lynx. They edged out the Liberty with a score of 82-80, leveling the series at 2-2. Williams scored 15 points grabbing four rebounds. The game was quite intense, with both teams battling hard when the score was stuck at 80.

It wasn’t until Bridget Carleton drew a foul in the final 15 seconds that the Lynx sealed the victory with two clutch free throws. Amidst all this, Don, a former athlete himself, was cheering for his daughter loud and clear. Courtney has often shared how important his support has been throughout her career. 

“He has definitely been this way always at all my games, doing the same thing. But I love it,” she said. “I feed off his energy when he’s over there clowning and jumping around and having a good time, then just telling me what I need to do and how I need to do it. It definitely keeps me going while I’m playing.”

However, while Don may be attacking Ellie, the mascot, for all the good reasons, she has a massive fan following. 

Ellie is the real MVP

Ellie has quickly become a beloved figure at Liberty games, charming fans with her high-energy dance moves and playful antics. From tossing T-shirts into the crowd to engaging with fans, she knows how to keep the energy up and the crowd buzzing. 

With over 100,000 Instagram followers and her top-notch fashion game,  her popularity has grown. The official Liberty account even joked about Ellie needing a new jersey number due to her growing fanbase. “Ellie is the real MVP!” one fan tweeted.

Officials and players alike cherish their mascot.  NY Liberty’s Chief Brand Officer Shana Stephenson told CBS Mornings, “Ellie has such a strong connection with our crowd. I think it’s also attributed to her background.” Speaking of her background, she is ‘Brooklynite.’

“Ellie is born and raised in Brooklyn. So she really taps into her roots as a true Brooklynite,” Stephenson revealed. “The energy, the spirit, the attitude that you see and that the fans love is all really authentic to who she is,” she added. 

With both teams fueled by family support and community pride, they are set for a final showdown in Brooklyn. With the Lynx eyeing their fifth title and the Liberty looking to defend their home turf, this game is sure to be one for the books. We’ll find out soon enough what happens!