MINNEAPOLIS -- The popular halftime performer known as Red Panda was injured at the start of her performance at the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx at Target Center on Tuesday.
No update was given on her condition, although a WNBA source said after the game that she was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Red Panda, the stage name for acrobat Rong Niu, rides a unicycle that sits 8 feet above the ground and balances bowls on her head. She has performed at NBA, WNBA and college basketball games in the United States for many years and is a fan favorite.
She fell off her unicycle and appeared to injure her wrist along with being generally shaken up. She got up to try to walk off the court, but then kneeled back down. Medical personnel tended to her and then brought out a wheelchair to take her off the court. She did not appear to ever lose consciousness.
The Fever beat the Lynx 74-59 for the Cup title. Fever coach Stephanie White said after the game that her team had been unaware of Red Panda's fall. But by the time the Fever were celebrating in their locker room, they had heard about it.
Indiana guard Caitlin Clark came onto teammate Sydney Colson's Instagram live post to say, "Red Panda, we love you!"
