Red Panda Steals Show at Women's Championship with Ilona Maher Assist

Famed halftime performer wows crowd with acrobatic unicycle act, aided by Olympic rugby star.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:24pm

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The women's national championship basketball game between South Carolina and UCLA was a blowout, but the real highlight came during halftime when legendary acrobat Red Panda took the court with a special assist from Olympian Ilona Maher. Red Panda's death-defying unicycle stunts had the crowd roaring, even after a recent injury sidelined her for months.

Why it matters

Red Panda has become a beloved fixture at college and professional basketball games, captivating audiences for decades with her jaw-dropping acrobatic skills. Her return to the court after a serious injury underscores her resilience and the joy she brings to fans, while Maher's cameo appearance helped drive even more excitement.

The details

During her halftime performance, Red Panda balanced a towering stack of bowls on her head while riding a tall unicycle. Olympian Ilona Maher, who won bronze in rugby at the 2024 Olympics, assisted by tossing the bowls up to Red Panda. Though Maher missed on one throw, Red Panda ultimately landed the full stack of bowls on her head, drawing a roar from the crowd.

  • Red Panda suffered a wrist injury and required two surgeries after a fall during a Commissioner's Cup game last spring.
  • Red Panda returned to performing at the women's national championship game on April 5, 2026.

The players

Red Panda

An acrobat known for her death-defying unicycle stunts, including balancing bowls on her head, who has been a fixture at college and professional basketball halftime shows since the 1990s.

Ilona Maher

An Olympian who won a bronze medal in rugby for the United States at the 2024 Olympic Games, and assisted Red Panda during her halftime performance.

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What they’re saying

“I'm breathing deep, I'm scared. Can you hear me breathing right now? Wow.”

— Ilona Maher, Olympian

“That's on me, that was me.”

— Ilona Maher, Olympian

What’s next

Red Panda is expected to continue performing at high-profile basketball events as she continues her comeback from injury.

The takeaway

Red Panda's return to the court after a serious injury underscores her resilience and the joy she brings to fans, while Ilona Maher's cameo appearance helped drive even more excitement around the legendary acrobat's death-defying unicycle stunts.