07/02/25 06:09:00
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07/02 18:08 CDT Red Panda has fractured left wrist, released from hospital
after fall at WNBA game
Red Panda has fractured left wrist, released from hospital after fall at WNBA
game
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
Good news, basketball fans: Red Panda intends to be ready for next season.
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 --- her 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.
The Fever won the game in Minneapolis, and during their postgame locker room
celebration Indiana star Caitlin Clark was among those --- on teammate Sydney
Colson's live stream on Instagram --- to send Red Panda well-wishes.
"Red Panda, if you're watching, we love you," Clark said.
Red Panda fell forward off her custom unicycle --- it's about 8 feet high ---
onto the court shortly after her performance started Tuesday night. She
immediately grabbed at her left wrist and was eventually helped off the floor
by wheelchair before being transported by ambulance to a hospital.
She comes from a family of performing acrobats. Her act is composed of her
riding on the unicycle 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.
"She very much appreciates all the support she is receiving," Figley said.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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