The Indiana Fever continued their momentum from an early 13‑point hole to rout the Minnesota Lynx, 74–59, and secure their first-ever WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title at the Target Center on July 1. Indiana essentially turned their second quarter 20-7 deficit into a 32–27 halftime advantage, setting the tone for a landmark victory.
It was not all sunshine and rainbows in the game, though, as tragedy struck during the halftime break.
What began as a high-flying showcase turned harrowing when famed unicyclist and acrobat Rong “Krystal” Niu, better known as “Red Panda,” took a heart-stopping spill less than a minute into her trademark seven-foot-tall unicycle routine. She was immediately wheeled out of the court by medical attendants.
Red Panda Injured as Indiana Fever Triumph in Commissioner’s Cup Final
Red Panda climbed onto her seven-foot-tall unicycle with the help of a ladder during halftime. Moments after releasing the ladder and starting out her routine, though, Red Panda lost her balance and tumbled to the ground. After she fell, she grabbed her left wrist in pain.
Red Panda went down with an injury during the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup 😔
Prayers up for a speedy recovery 🙏pic.twitter.com/XlAPjB8GQ7
– FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) July 2, 2025
Medical personnel rushed to her side as the performance ground to a halt. She was wheeled off in a chair and later transported by ambulance for evaluation, leaving players and spectators alike shaken by the sight.
Even the Fever’s own Caitlin Clark sent prayers to Niu, “Red Panda, we love you,” via Sydney Colson’s Instagram Live.
A veteran of more than three decades in sports entertainment, Red Panda has dazzled audiences with her daring flips and plate-balancing feats since the early 1990s. She earned international acclaim through appearances on “Britain’s Got Talent” and “America’s Got Talent” Season 8.
Despite a history of minor tumbles, including a broken arm that she mentioned during a 2018 interview, she has continued her unicycle act. As of this writing, USA TODAY reported that a WNBA source confirmed that Niu was transported to a hospital for further evaluation.
Fever’s Achieve Their First WNBA Commissioner’s Cup
Once the halftime commotion died down, the Fever returned to the floor with renewed focus. With Clark sidelined for a third straight game due to a groin strain suffered on June 24, Indiana leaned heavily on veterans Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston to carry the load.
Howard delivered a dominant performance with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Boston added a double-double of her own, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
Minnesota struggled to find a rhythm offensively, shooting just 34.9% from the field and committing 16 turnovers, mistakes Indiana capitalized on. Alanna Smith led the Lynx with 15 points, while Napheesa Collier added 12, but their efforts weren’t enough as the Fever’s defense smothered Minnesota’s scoring attack.
COMMISSIONER’S CUP CHAMPS 😤#FeverWin pic.twitter.com/JHNZDcWhxg
– Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 2, 2025
As Cup champions, Indiana claimed a $500,000 prize pool and an additional $120,000 in cryptocurrency from sponsor Coinbase. Moreover, the Fever’s Cup run secured $13,000 in donation for Peace Learning Center. They won an additional $10,000 (taking the total to $23,000) that would go to the non-profit organisation.
As the Fever celebrate a milestone championship, their eyes turn back to the regular season, where they currently sit at an 8-8 record.
Next up, the Fever return home to face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Meanwhile, fans and the hoop community filled social media platforms with their heartfelt prayers for Niu’s speedy recovery.
