Iconic Halftime Performer Red Panda Opens Up About Traumatic Fall and Recovery Journey
Rong Niu, the legendary halftime performer globally recognized as Red Panda, recently admitted she still experiences psychological distress following a severe accident that halted her career last year. During the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final in July 2025, Niu suffered a catastrophic fall from her custom seven-foot unicycle, an incident she now attributes to a pedal damaged during transit. The accident resulted in a severe fracture to her left wrist—refracturing a site previously injured in 2013—and necessitated an eleven-hour hospital stay followed by surgery and four months of grueling rehabilitation.
While Niu has successfully returned to the court, resuming her schedule with an appearance at an Amazon Prime event in October and subsequent NBA games, the mental toll remains a significant obstacle. She confessed that intrusive thoughts about the fall plague her, particularly when she begins to pedal, challenging the seeming ease of her performance. Critics and safety experts have long noted the inherent dangers of her act, which involves balancing multiple ceramic bowls on her head while riding a high unicycle without a safety net. At over 50 years old, the physical demands and risks of such high-altitude acrobatics are intensified, raising questions about the longevity of such physically punishing routines.
Despite these valid concerns and the lingering trauma, Niu credits a massive wave of public backing for her return. Following the accident, she received an outpouring of support from fans and high-profile figures, including Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who publicly expressed her love for the performer. This collective encouragement provided the emotional fortitude required to overcome the physical setback. A fourth-generation acrobat who began her training at age seven, Niu continues to defy the odds, balancing her fragile recovery against the demands of her legacy as one of the sports world’s most beloved intermission acts.
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