Olivia ‘Livvy’ Dunne kicked off her Thursday with a lighthearted message, wishing a “happy Opening Day to those who celebrate.” By the afternoon, however, the mood had shifted dramatically as she watched boyfriend Paul Skenes endure a difficult start to the MLB season. The 23-year-old influencer and former gymnast was in attendance at Citi Field to support Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates as they faced the New York Mets.
Dressed casually in jeans and a tank top, Dunne took in the warm spring atmosphere from the stands, hoping to see a strong performance from the reigning NL Cy Young winner. Instead, the outing quickly unraveled.
The Pirates initially gave Skenes a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the momentum didn’t last.
The Mets responded aggressively, capitalizing on defensive miscues – most notably from Oneil Cruz – to pile on runs.
Skenes was chased from the game after just 37 pitches, surrendering five runs in a rough Opening Day showing.
The Mets continued their offensive push against the bullpen, eventually sealing an 11-7 victory and handing the Pirates an early setback in the 2026 campaign.
For Skenes, the performance marked a disappointing return after a standout previous season. Expectations are high for the young ace, and Opening Day struggles only amplify the scrutiny that comes with his rising profile.
While Opening Day didn’t deliver the result Skenes or the Pirates were hoping for, the long MLB season leaves plenty of room for recovery. Early struggles are not uncommon, even for elite pitchers, and adjustments will be key moving forward.
Dunne stands by her man
Still, one constant remains, and that’s the support of Dunne. Their relationship, which dates back to their college days at LSU Tigers, has become one of the most talked-about pairings in sports.
While Skenes dominated on the mound and Dunne excelled in gymnastics, their connection developed off the field in a more unexpected way.
Dunne revealed that an oblivious Skenes nearly missed his chance with her because he didn’t follow her back on social media.
“He wouldn’t follow me back on Instagram,” Dunne once revealed. “I was like, ‘Who is this kid and why won’t he follow me back?”
That early hesitation almost prevented the relationship from forming. According to her, Skenes simply wasn’t active on social media and rarely checked notifications.
It took mutual friends arranging a group outing at a country music concert in 2023 to bring the two together – an event that ultimately sparked their relationship.
Their schedules have often made it difficult to support each other in person, but Dunne does her best to attend games where she can.
“I could never actually watch him do his thing because every Friday that he would start, we were competing,” Dunne said.
Despite those challenges, both have made efforts to show up whenever possible. Thursday’s appearance at Citi Field was another example of that commitment, even if the result didn’t go as planned.
Baywatch role just the start
Off the field, Dunne continues to expand her profile beyond sports. She is set to appear in a reboot of Baywatch, scheduled to air on Fox later this year.
The role has already generated buzz, with Dunne sharing images of herself in the iconic red lifeguard outfit alongside co-stars Hassie Harrison and Brooks Nader.
For Dunne, the day served as a reminder that even high-profile moments don’t always go to script. Yet her continued support reflects the foundation of a relationship that has remained steady despite busy schedules and growing fame.
If Opening Day proved anything, it’s that even when things go wrong, they’re navigating it together.
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