Curious about the status of Red Panda or if she's retired since her injury?
Decided to google it for myself:
As of January 2026, the legendary halftime performer Red Panda (Rong "Krystal" Niu) is fully active and back to performing after a successful recovery from a serious injury.
Recent Recovery and Return
The Injury (July 2025): Red Panda suffered a severe fall from her 7-foot unicycle during halftime of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx. The fall resulted in a broken left wrist that required extensive surgery.
The Comeback (Late 2025): She officially returned to the NBA on November 4, 2025, during a game between the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center.
Current Status (2026): She is currently performing for the 2025-26 basketball season and recently made her NFL debut in late December 2025.
Key Performance Milestones
NFL Debut: On December 22, 2025, she performed her first-ever NFL halftime show during a game between the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers.
Recent Appearances: She has recently been spotted performing for the Boston Celtics and at various college basketball games (e.g., University of Texas).
Legendary Status: Now in her mid-50s, Red Panda has been a fixture of sports entertainment for over 30 years, having performed at every major stage from the NBA Finals to Britain's Got Talent.