Latest news with #halftime
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Red Panda fractured left wrist after fall during halftime act at WNBA Commissioner's Cup game
Iconic halftime performer Rong 'Krystal' Niu, better known by her stage name Red Panda, sustained a severe fracture in her left wrist after falling at the beginning of her halftime act during Tuesday's night's WNBA Commissioner's Cup title game, her manager Pat Figley said in a statement to Niu took a spill from her custom-built unicycle less than 30 seconds into her performance, which came in the middle of the Indiana Fever's matchup with the Minnesota Lynx. She was taken off the court in a wheelchair following the fall, and transported, via ambulance, to a local hospital. Advertisement Figley said that Niu spent 11 hours at a local Minnesota hospital Tuesday night, where two members of the Lynx organization accompanied her while she underwent a medical procedure. Figley said that doctors recommended to Niu that she meet with additional orthopedic surgeons for the second part of her wrist repair upon her return home. 'Red Panda wants me to thank all of you for the kind wishes and support,' Figley said in a statement. 'It means the world to her.' Figley said that the Niu fell due to the left pedal of her unicycle being damaged while in transit. In the aftermath of the fall, Niu received widespread support both in the arena and online as news of her accident spread. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and her teammates were among those who sent well-wishes to Niu as the team celebrated its 74-59 win, which came with a $500,000 prize. Advertisement Niu, a fourth-generation acrobat originally from China, began performing full-time at 12 years old. She first performed during an NBA game in 1993 and has become a fan favorite over the ensuing three decades at the pro and college levels for her unique bowl-flipping act. In 2015, Niu suffered a broken arm in practice, yet she continued performing after completing her recovery. In addition to her performances inside sports arenas, Niu appeared in season eight of 'America's Got Talent' and season 18 of 'Britain's Got Talent,' reaching the semifinals. In 2018, she was in the headlines when her unicycle — worth $25,000 — was stolen at a San Francisco airport. The Golden State Warriors later presented her with a replacement prior to a halftime performance in October 2018. 'She much appreciates from her heart the support she is receiving,' Figley said, adding that Niu is definitely planning to come back for the start of next NBA season. Advertisement This article originally appeared in The Athletic. WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Red Panda fractured left wrist after fall during halftime act at WNBA Commissioner's Cup game
Iconic halftime performer Rong 'Krystal' Niu, better known by her stage name Red Panda, sustained a severe fracture in her left wrist after falling at the beginning of her halftime act during Tuesday's night's WNBA Commissioner's Cup title game, her manager Pat Figley said in a statement to The Athletic. Advertisement Niu took a spill from her custom-built unicycle less than 30 seconds into her performance, which came in the middle of the Indiana Fever's matchup with the Minnesota Lynx. She was taken off the court in a wheelchair following the fall, and transported, via ambulance, to a local hospital. Figley said that Niu spent 11 hours at a local Minnesota hospital Tuesday night, where two members of the Lynx organization accompanied her while she underwent a medical procedure. Figley said that doctors recommended to Niu that she meet with additional orthopedic surgeons for the second part of her wrist repair upon her return home. Big halftime news in Minneapolis is that the great Red Panda's halftime act stopped less than a minute in as she fell off her unicycle. They're bringing a wheelchair over to her now. — Ben Pickman (@benpickman) July 2, 2025 'Red Panda wants me to thank all of you for the kind wishes and support,' Figley said in a statement. 'It means the world to her.' Figley said that the Niu fell due to the left pedal of her unicycle being damaged while in transit. In the aftermath of the fall, Niu received widespread support both in the arena and online as news of her accident spread. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and her teammates were among those who sent well-wishes to Niu as the team celebrated its 74-59 win, which came with a $500,000 prize. Niu, a fourth-generation acrobat originally from China, began performing full-time at 12 years old. She first performed during an NBA game in 1993 and has become a fan favorite over the ensuing three decades at the pro and college levels for her unique bowl-flipping act. In 2015, Niu suffered a broken arm in practice, yet she continued performing after completing her recovery. In addition to her performances inside sports arenas, Niu appeared in season eight of 'America's Got Talent' and season 18 of 'Britain's Got Talent,' reaching the semifinals. Advertisement In 2018, she was in the headlines when her unicycle — worth $25,000 — was stolen at a San Francisco airport. The Golden State Warriors later presented her with a replacement prior to a halftime performance in October 2018. 'She much appreciates from her heart the support she is receiving,' Figley said. 'We'll keep all posted.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark Sends Message To Legendary Halftime Performer Red Panda
Caitlin Clark Sends Message To Legendary Halftime Performer Red Panda originally appeared on The Spun. During Tuesday night's WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx, halftime performer Red Panda suffered a nasty fall. Advertisement Red Panda, a beloved acrobat, was riding a unicycle when she fell off it and landed directly on her wrists. She stayed on the ground for several moments before receiving assistance from medical personnel. Although she tried to walk off the court under her own power, a wheelchair was brought out for her. As you'd imagine, those in attendance at Target Center were deeply concerned about Red Panda's health. She's been a fan favorite for years due to her work at NBA, WNBA and college basketball games. "I hope she's okay!!! The fact this doesn't happen more often is testament to her greatness," Seth Davis said. "Thoughts and prayers for Red Panda. The legendary half time show performer fell at the very beginning of her show at the Lynx game and had to get wheeled off the floor," another person wrote on X. Advertisement Fever guard Caitlin Clark also addressed Red Panda's injury. She shared her thoughts following the team's victory over the Lynx. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 28: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever takes a photo before the game against the Washington Mystics at CFG Bank Arena on May 28, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by)Sydney Colson went live on Instagram last night to celebrate the Fever's win in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final. Clark jumped on the livestream to send a classy message to Red Panda. She also let her teammates know what happen to the legendary halftime performer. "Red Panda, if you're watching, we love you," Clark said. We're not sure if Red Panda heard Clark's remarks, but that's still a classy gesture from the former No. 1 pick. An official update on Red Panda's status has not yet been released. Advertisement Hopefully, Red Panda has a speedy recovery. Related: Prayers Pouring In For Legendary Halftime Performer After Scary Fall Caitlin Clark Sends Message To Legendary Halftime Performer Red Panda first appeared on The Spun on Jul 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WNBA Icon Sends Love to Halftime Performer After Shocking Accident
WNBA Icon Sends Love to Halftime Performer After Shocking Accident originally appeared on Parade. The WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx took a tragic turn on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, when the halftime performer sustained injuries following an accident. Popular unicyclist Rong Niu, better known as Red Panda, fell forward off of her 8-foot unicycle during the game's intermission and left the court in a wheelchair. Advertisement It is unclear what caused the fall, and her condition is unknown at this time, but she appeared to be holding her left wrist. Personnel rushed onto the court to help her up following the accident. Pro basketball phenom Caitlin Clark took her first opportunity to send love to the acrobat in a live video on Indiana Fever teammate Syd Colson's Instagram Live, sticking her head into the frame to say "We love you Red Panda!" before alerting the other players that the performer "got hurt at halftime." The team went on to win the game 74-59 against the Minnesota Lynx. Red Panda is famous for her routine, which includes riding her custom unicycle while flipping bowls onto a stack on her head with her feet. She has been a performing acrobat for decades, and this appears to be her first fall during a performance. Advertisement A halftime legend, fans were devastated to see her get hurt. "PROTECT RED PANDA AT ALL COSTS. SHE IS AN AMERICAN TREASURE," wrote one fan, while another added, "Life has not been the same since I heard that Red Panda fell." A third said, "Hoping Red Panda is okay 😢 truly a halftime legend." Fans and players alike are hoping for a speedy recovery for the performer. WNBA Icon Sends Love to Halftime Performer After Shocking Accident first appeared on Parade on Jul 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Popular unicycle performer Red Panda injured at half-time of WNBA game
One of the most popular acts in halftime entertainment sustained an injury Tuesday night in Minneapolis as Rong 'Krystal' Niu, better known under her stage name of 'Red Panda,' needed to be assisted off the court after falling during half-time of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx. Niu has delighted basketball fans in numerous NBA, college basketball and WNBA venues since her debut in 1993. The 'Red Panda' rides a seven-foot-tall unicycle while catching and balancing a large number of metal bowls on her head during her act. Reporters for MinnPost and ESPN confirmed that Niu took a hard spill, falling from her unicycle during Tuesday's performance. The popular performer laid still for some time, cradling her left wrist before being taken off the court in a wheelchair. After the game, several Indiana players, including Caitlin Clark, shared their concern for Niu during an Instagram Live hosted by teammate Sydney Colson. Caitlin Clark jumps into Syd Colson's IG live to send recovery wishes to Red Panda, who fell off her unicycle during her halftime performance. Caitlin: Red Panda, if you're watching, we love you. 🫶Syd: I don't think Red Panda's watching my shit. 🤣 'We hope she's OK,' Clark said, echoing a sentiment felt across the basketball world for a performer who has long been part of the sport's rhythm and spectacle. Once called 'the best halftime act in basketball' by Dime Magazine, Niu retired in 2013 to support her father while he battled cancer. She practiced occasionally during this timeframe and suffered her first wrist injury. After she mourned her father's death due to esophageal cancer and helped her mother deal with an illness, Niu made her return in 2015 as she revealed in a Sports on Earth interview that she couldn't stay away. 'I missed it,' Niu said. 'The crowd. The energy. The challenge. From my heart, I feel like this is a part of my home. Although I lost my father, I still have this part of my life with me, just like before.'
