Breathe a sigh of relief, BBN: Red Panda will return to the basketball court next season.
The popular performer fell off her unicycle during halftime of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. Her agent, Patrick Figley, told the Associated Press that she broke her left wrist and will require further consultation with an orthopedic surgeon, but should be good to go for next basketball season. She spent 11 hours in a Minneapolis hospital and is now headed home to recover.
“She is very grateful,” Figley said. “Red Panda thanks everyone for all the kind wishes and support. It means the world to her.”
Figley said that the accident was caused by the left paddle of her unicycle being damaged during transit. She pitched forward over the front of the custom 7-foot unicycle shortly after beginning her halftime performance and crashed to the floor.
Over the years, the 55-year-old Chinese-American acrobat has become famous for her halftime act, in which she rides the unicycle and balances custom-made bowls on her lower leg before flipping them onto her head. She comes from a family of performing acrobats and has also appeared on season eight of “America’s Got Talent” and season 18 of “Britain’s Got Talent.”
Red Panda has performed at Rupp Arena several times, most recently at the Kansas game in January 2023. Vanderbilt also brought her to Nashville for Kentucky’s game at Memorial Gym in February 2024 and Mississippi State when the Cats came to Starkville this past season. Forget “T-Shirt Night” and “Cup Night”; You know it’s a big game when Red Panda comes to town.
Just when you thought Rob Dillingham was the most impressive thing in this building, here comes Red Panda
pic.twitter.com/7uTIuMVUq6
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) February 7, 2024
Best wishes to Red Panda for a full recovery. Let’s be a little more careful packing up that unicycle moving forward.
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