Rong Niu, better known as the legendary halftime performer Red Panda, suffered a scary fall during her routine at the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever Tuesday night.
According to The Athletic's Ben Pickman, she fell off her signature unicycle less than a minute into her performance which stopped the act as she was helped off the floor and eventually wheeled away. She's a long beloved figure across the sports world, mainly among basketball fans, for her incredible acrobatics where she throws and balances bowl after bowl in a giant stack atop her head—all from the top of her unicycle.
The gravity-defying act of course comes with risk as the five-foot performer gets up to 12-feet tall atop her unicycle, focusing on balancing metal bowls on her feet and catching them on her head. She's become world-renowned mostly for her halftime performances across NBA, WNBA and college basketball games.
As the scary moment surfaced across social media, fans quickly spread an outpouring of love and support for the treasured figure:
Praying for my friend, the best halftime performer there has ever been. We are all here for you Red. 🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/b9Fk1IYaZ3
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) July 2, 2025
Hoping Red Panda is okay 😢 truly a halftime legend
— Bri Lewerke (@brilewerke) July 2, 2025
She never expected to still be performing. 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. https://t.co/WRD8hjV5QL
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 2, 2025
Not Red Panda 💔💔💔😖💔💔💔
— Arielle (Ari) Chambers (@ariivory) July 2, 2025
Hoping the legend is okay — this act is as scary as it is impressive. Best to Red Panda. https://t.co/yp2AxEWzy0
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) July 2, 2025
Big East legend
— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) July 2, 2025
Praying for Red Panda https://t.co/dxlB9V0VV0
Oh no. Red Panda just fell off her unicycle at halftime of the Lynx game. I’m heartbroken 💔
— Dane Mizutani (@DaneMizutani) July 2, 2025
Prayers up to Red Panda! 🔴🐼 @SamKnoxTV pic.twitter.com/dCy4WlAiHl
— Morey Hershgordon (@MHershgordon) July 2, 2025
While the severity of the injury is currently unknown, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files reported she left the court clutching her left wrist, which may have taken the brunt of the fall. The entire basketball world is hoping it's nothing serious as we await an update on her condition.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Legendary Halftime Act Red Panda Suffers Scary Fall During WNBA Commissioner's Cup.
