The Chicago Sky introduced a new mascot earlier this week, and the jokes immediately started flying.
Chicago seemingly knew that its previous mascot — Sky Guy — wouldn’t cut it anymore with fans. (Sky Guy was all kinds of creepy, and, if I’m honest, he looked like The Crimson Chin. So, it was probably best to move on.) The franchise has reimagined its once underwhelming mascot and rebranded it as a blue braid-wearing lion named Skye the Lioness.
According to a team release, a lioness was chosen to embody strength, feminine power, and grace and to symbolize the courage to overcome obstacles. It’s also a solid nod to the city of Chicago, where lions serve as guardians of the Art Institute of Chicago. Skye makes her debut on Wednesday against the Washington Mystics.
So, about those hints…
We have a new mascot:Skye the Lioness!
📰https://t.co/zIbN4uMaBO pic.twitter.com/EsQ3gfRkrn
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) August 26, 2024
She’s here and she’s ✨gorgeous✨#skytown https://t.co/lNi7jgyO88 pic.twitter.com/Z0lXosTyst
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) August 26, 2024
Right away, fans realized Skye would face stiff competition from New York Liberty staple Ellie the Elephant as the WNBA’s best mascot.
Of course, the Ellie jokes started flying, and we can not stop giggling.
*Rolling on the floor laughing* pic.twitter.com/NL1LAA8q82
— Ellie The Elephant (@BigEllieLiberty) August 26, 2024
https://t.co/6xTa8Ye5Vd pic.twitter.com/qdFqJtuuHs
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) August 26, 2024
https://t.co/zQtAkgmelX pic.twitter.com/yXQUX2nS3N
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) August 26, 2024
She ain’t no divaaaaaaa…. https://t.co/DqMp5bT9KO pic.twitter.com/jlCHpMMMOV
— JR (@mr_jruss) August 26, 2024
Everyone wants to be you, @BigEllieLiberty https://t.co/8fHEtPDIVG pic.twitter.com/ovL6sm4nHj
— NY Liberty Brasil (@nylibertybr) August 26, 2024
As @sinistergirlz said pic.twitter.com/93QKqtH7nU
— Marsh G 🗽🏀 (@iamMarshh) August 27, 2024
Ohhhhhh Ellie has a new homie 🤣
— Miriah ~ Faithfullee In Vegas (@Miriah49Lee) August 26, 2024
@BigEllieLiberty got the new girlies coming out the woodwork 😂
— Scorpio’s Groove (@coldphilosophy) August 26, 2024
Imposter, get y'all own style. Ellie works because she has the characteristics of a real inner city New Yorker.
— Cocoa Johnson (@Cocoa10303) August 26, 2024
Y’all need to make her a twitter @chicagosky Ellie throwing shade and Skye need to get UP 😭😭
— Tra (@Tralan_H) August 26, 2024