Latest news with #RongNiu
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Red Panda suffers scary fall during WNBA halftime show
The post Red Panda suffers scary fall during WNBA halftime show appeared first on ClutchPoints. A mishap occurred during Tuesday night's WNBA Commissioner's Cup Championship clash between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx. One of the best halftime performers the sports world has ever seen suffered an injury in Minneapolis' Target Center. Acrobat Rong 'Krystal' Niu, better known by the name Red Panda, rides a 7-foot-tall unicycle while flipping and balancing bowls on her head. She fell early during her act and eventually left in an ambulance, according to The Athletic's Ben Pickman and Chantel Jennings. Advertisement Red Panda started to walk off the court while grabbing her back, before a wheelchair was brought out to assist her. Fans around the country are devastated to learn of this development. It is also quite shocking to see this one-of-a-kind talent fall, given the aura of invincibility she has built for herself after spending decades amazing NBA, WNBA and NCAA spectators, among others. Red Panda first emerged in the United States during the 1990s and then expanded her following with a memorable run on the long-running competition show, 'America's Got Talent,' back in 2013. Niu had to withdraw from the quarterfinals due to personal reasons, but she left her mark on the stage and went on to become an even more prevalent presence at halftime shows. An NBA insider nicely described the remarkable and enduring impact this veteran entertainer has had on the industry. Advertisement 'She never expected to still be performing,' The Stein Line's Jake Fischer posted on X. 'A broken arm during practice almost led to Red Panda's retirement in 2015. The fact she's still been out there, crushing it, well past 50 years old, has been amazing. Hope she gets well soon and is back on the court.' Red Panda recently performed in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, illustrating the type of appeal she continues to carry after all these years on tour. Prayers are with Niu. Her supporters, of which there are many, earnestly await some good news. Related: WNBA rumors: Houston still eyeing franchise despite expansion cities announcement Advertisement Related: Week 6 WNBA power rankings: Have the Aces finally found their identity?
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cause of Red Panda's Accident at Fever-Lynx Game Revealed
Cause of Red Panda's Accident at Fever-Lynx Game Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports. 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. Advertisement 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 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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.
South China Morning Post
03-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
NBA half-time star Red Panda suffers wrist fracture, back for next season
Good news, basketball fans: Red Panda intends to be ready for next season. The popular performer who fell off her unicycle and crashed to the court during half-time of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx, has a broken left wrist and will need further consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon, her representatives said on Wednesday. Red Panda – whose real name is Rong Niu – spent 11 hours in a Minneapolis hospital, with a pair of Lynx staffers there with her the entire time, agent Patrick Figley said. The Chinese-American acrobat was heading home for treatment and recovery, which should take a few months. 'She is very grateful,' Figley said. 'Red Panda thanks everyone for all the kind wishes and support. It means the world to her.' The fall was caused by part of her unicycle being damaged during transit, Figley said. The Fever won the game in Minneapolis, and during their postgame locker room celebration, Indiana star Caitlin Clark was among those – on teammate Sydney Colson's live stream on Instagram – to send Red Panda well-wishes.
South China Morning Post
03-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
NBA half-time star Red Panda suffers wrist fracture, back for next season
Good news, basketball fans: Red Panda intends to be ready for next season. The popular performer who fell off her unicycle and crashed to the court during half-time of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx, has a broken left wrist and will need further consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon, her representatives said on Wednesday. Red Panda – whose real name is Rong Niu – spent 11 hours in a Minneapolis hospital, with a pair of Lynx staffers there with her the entire time, agent Patrick Figley said. The Chinese-American acrobat was heading home for treatment and recovery, which should take a few months. 'She is very grateful,' Figley said. 'Red Panda thanks everyone for all the kind wishes and support. It means the world to her.' The fall was caused by part of her unicycle being damaged during transit, Figley said. The Fever won the game in Minneapolis, and during their postgame locker room celebration, Indiana star Caitlin Clark was among those – on teammate Sydney Colson's live stream on Instagram – to send Red Panda well-wishes.
Washington Post
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Red Panda suffered ‘severe' wrist fracture in halftime fall at WNBA game
While entertaining the crowd at Target Center in Minneapolis during the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx. Rong Niu, the popular halftime show performer known by the stage name Red Panda, suffered what her agent described as a 'severe fracture' of her left wrist in a fall. The injury occurred just after the acrobat, believed to be in her 50s, began her act.
