Cause of Red Panda's Accident at Fever-Lynx Game Revealed
During the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, popular halftime performer Red Panda suffered a scary accident that had fans concerned.
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Red Panda, whose real name is Rong Niu, is an acrobat who has performed in NBA, WNBA and college basketball games in the U.S. She is known for balancing several bowls on her head while riding a unicycle, making her a famous attraction and a total fan-favorite.
Unfortunately, Red Panda wasn't able to complete her performance during the Lynx-Fever game after she fell off her unicycle and suffered a wrist injury. She was quickly assisted off the court in a wheelchair and brought to a hospital to get checked.
Popular NBA and WNBA halftime performer Red Panda suffered an injury during the recent Indiana Fever-Minnesota Lynx game.Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
On Wednesday, Red Panda's team released a statement (through former NFL player Pat McAfee) to provide an update on the performer's status and reveal what really happened to her.
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According to the statement, Red Panda's left wrist was "severely fractured" as a result of the fall. She also had to stay in a hospital for 11 hours before being released. She was advised to "meet with an orthopedic surgeon" to address her fracture and do the "2nd part of repair."
The reason for the accident was also revealed in the statement, with her team noting that she fell because the left pedal of her unicycle "was damaged during transit."
Support for Red Panda poured in following her accident. In fact, Fever star Caitlin Clark showed love for the fan-favorite performer following the team's Commissioner's Cup championship.
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During an Instagram Live session as the Fever were celebrating their victory, Clark gave a shoutout to Red Panda, saying: "Red Panda, we love you. Red Panda, if you are watching, we love you."
It remains to be seen how much time Rong Niu will need to recover and get back to performing again. Sure enough, though, she has plenty of supporters hoping for her quick healing and return.
Related: Former NFL Player Under Fire Over Caitlin Clark Take
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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