Red Panda released from hospital after fall at Fever-Lynx game

Updated on: July 2, 2025 / 11:44 PM EDT
/ CBS/AP Red Panda, the popular performer who fell off her unicycle and crashed to the court during halftime 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 orthopedic surgeon, the agency that represents her said 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. She appeared to be grabbing at her left wrist after the fall — video showed her falling forward off the unicycle onto the court — and was helped off the floor by wheelchair. Red Panda is a Chinese American woman who comes from a family of performing acrobats. Her act is composed of her riding on her custom-built unicycle, which stretches about 8 feet above the court, and balancing custom-made bowls on her lower leg before flipping them atop her head. She has performed at countless basketball games, including Game 5 of the NBA Finals last month in Oklahoma City. The Fever were missing All-Star guard Caitlin Clark, who has been sidelined since June 24 with a strained groin, but they still easily beat the Lynx 74-59 to win the Commissioner's Cup. Clark joined an Instagram Live video posted by teammate Sydney Colson, saying: "Red Panda, we love you."