How is Red Panda doing after her WNBA Commissioner's Cup fall? Injury update explored

Red Panda, the acrobat famed for her halftime shows, experienced a serious injury during a performance at the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final on July 1, 2025, as per USA Today. The acrobat, whose real name is Rong Niu, is known for her skills as a unicyclist. She was performing during the halftime break of the game between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx when the accident happened.

The fall occurred just seconds into her act when her unicycle’s left pedal malfunctioned. It was later revealed that the pedal had been damaged during transport. As a result, she lost her balance and fell hard onto the court.

Medical staff rushed to help her, and she was quickly taken to a hospital in Minneapolis. Red Panda suffered a major wrist injury and required urgent treatment.

What caused Red Panda’s fall during the show?

Red Panda’s accident happened because of a mechanical issue with her unicycle. The acrobat's team later said,

"The left (pedal) of her unicycle was damaged during transit."

This made it impossible for her to keep her balance.

Her unicycle stands at 7 feet tall, and it requires perfect balance for her to perform. Even a small defect can be dangerous. In this case, the pedal damage came from poor handling during transport to the venue.

Because of this pedal defect, Red Panda lost balance and fell straight onto the court. The fall was serious, and she was unable to continue the performance. The WNBA medical staff responded right away.

What kind of injury did Red Panda suffer?

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Red Panda fractured her left wrist. This was not the first time she injured that same wrist. She had broken it in 2013 during another fall. The fracture at the time was severe enough to require emergency medical attention.

She was taken to a hospital in Minneapolis and treated for 11 hours. Doctors performed a procedure to stabilize the injury. She remained under observation during that time.

Two staff members from the Minnesota Lynx stayed with her at the hospital. They helped her with medical needs and provided comfort while she was away from her home and family.

Red Panda's current situation after injury

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The latest update is that Red Panda has been released from the hospital, and is now traveling back home. Her doctors in Minneapolis have recommended that she meet with an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. This would help decide the next steps for further surgery or therapy.

Her recovery is expected to take a few months. Her team has said that while the injury is serious, she is in good hands and expected to make a full recovery.

She and her team have also shared a message of thanks. They expressed gratitude for all the support from fans, players, and the WNBA community. She is hopeful and focused on healing. Her team released a message to ESPN's Pat McAfee that the latter posted on X. The message said:

"Thank you very much to all NBA, WNBA, Universities, media individuals and her ever supporting fans for your kindness and concern. Last night at Lynx/Fever she took a fall at the very beginning of the show, due to left paddle of her unicycle was damaged during transit, her left wrist was severely fractured at the same spot for the 2nd time. She was at the hospital for 11 hours last night."

The message added:

"Greta and Sheridan, from Minnesota Lynx, stayed with her at the hospital the entire night for her procedure. She is very grateful. She is on her way home now and the Doctors in Minneapolis have recommended that as soon as she gets home, she meet with an orthopedic surgeon for the 2nd part of repair."

It also stated:

"Red panda, wants me to Thank all of you for the kind wishes and support, it means the world to her. She much appreciates from her heart the support she is receiving. We’ll keep you all posted."

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Edited by Vinayak Chakravorty