Heard of the phrase “icing on the cake?” That’s what Rong Niu, better known as Red Panda, does to the WNBA viewership. But make no mistake, the cake itself is Caitlin Clark, who is currently recovering from a groin injury. “The WNBA’s viewership dropped more than 50 percent. Not just the Fever, but the entire league,” veteran reporter Christine Brennan said of Clark’s earlier (quad strain) absence. And just when things couldn’t get any more chaotic, the WNBA audience has now lost its halftime hope and cool-down remedy to injury, too.

The legendary performer, Red Panda, took a nasty spill tonight during the Commissioner’s Cup Final, during the halftime show of the Lynx vs. Fever matchup. Being just seconds into her routine, Red Panda appeared to lean too far forward. As she attempted to steady herself, the unicycle’s seat slipped out from under her. It caused a sudden and dramatic fall. The good news is that she did not appear to lose consciousness. However, she had to be helped off the court in a wheelchair.

Eventually, the Fever won the title against the league-leading Lynx. And even amidst all the celebration, Caitlin Clark remembered to wish Niu a speedy recovery. The squad was live on Syd Colson’s Instagram account, and it was a light mood. However, the energy shifted as Caitlin Clark said, “Red Panda, if you’re watching, we love you.” It was a sincere wish from one hard-working woman to another. However, Syd being herself said, “ I don’t think Red Panda’s watching my shit.“

The Red Panda sure sounds like someone with a lot of talent. So what are the roots of the woman behind the bowls and the balance?

Where does the NBA and WNBA’s beloved Red Panda come from?

Rong “Krystal” Niu is a 54-year-old Chinese-American acrobat. She was born and raised in Taiyuan in Shanxi, China. She moved to the United States when she was 19, first to Orlando, Florida, and later to the Sunset District neighborhood of San Francisco, California. However, her journey began long before any of that. Niu grew up watching both of her parents (GuiZhang Niu and Jiang LongDi) being acrobats all their lives. In fact, she is a fourth-generation acrobat. Her grandmother and great-grandmother flipped bowls as well.

Niu started honing her skills when she was just 7 years old. She later even enrolled in a boarding school dedicated to acrobatics. Between the ages of 14 and 19, she performed around the world as part of the renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. To top that off, her father’s advice led her to one of the biggest world stages.

“He said, ‘Always focus.’ He knew I get nervous,” Niu once said. “He always told me that, just to think that all of those people come here to watch you. That means you are the king. You have to show that you are in power now.” Niu also has a sister who is five years junior to her.

Rong “Krystal” Niu’s Professional History…

It all started when she began sending audition tapes to circuses and performance venues. Her big break happened on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. It was when she was asked to fill in as a last-minute halftime act at a Los Angeles Clippers home game. Fortunately, the audience loved her, and things took off immediately. The next NBA season, she performed in more than 40 games and quickly became a league-wide sensation.

She regularly performed not just in the NBA but also at college basketball and WNBA games. Dime magazine even called her “the best halftime act in basketball.” Then in 2013, Niu expanded her reach by competing on America’s Got Talent (Season 8). There, she managed to make it to the quarterfinals. However, she left the show for personal reasons after her father was diagnosed with cancer. While caring for him, Niu kept practicing but suffered her first major acrobat injury. She had a broken wrist from falling off her unicycle.

Unfortunately, her father passed away in 2014, which was then followed by her mother’s declining health. Despite these major struggles, Red Panda staged a powerful comeback in 2015. She performed at the Memphis Grizzlies’ home opener for the 2015-16 season on October 28. Her career kept soaring. In 2025, she appeared internationally again. This time, she was on Britain’s Got Talent (Series 18) and reached the semifinals. That same year, she even performed as a halftime act for the fictional Los Angeles Waves in the Netflix basketball comedy Running Point (Season 1, Episode 5).

It has been one hell of a ride for her, which is definitely not concluding anytime soon. Hopefully, both Caitlin Clark and Rong Niu will return with more power from their latest injuries.