Olivia Dunne‘s baseball story comes to an end this year with the close of Paul Skenes‘ 2025 MLB season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, after their 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, September 27.
The Pirates will finish no better than .444 for the year should they beat the Braves on the final day of the campaign, with the team destined to be rooted to the bottom of the National League Central and at least six wins behind the St. Louis Cardinals.
There will be no MLB Playoffs for the side after another disappointing team record, although Skenes delivered standout performances that solidified his reputation as one of league’s best pitchers.
And valiantly cheering him on at the PNC Park or elsewhere across the United States was Dunne, often visible in the stands, providing unwavering support during his starts.
The former gymnast has become a prominent figure in baseball circles, known for her enthusiastic presence at games and her ability to connect with fans on social media as she finds her next steps after leaving the LSU Tigers.
She regularly documented her experiences throughout the season, from All-Star weekend festivities to behind-the-scenes glimpses of life off the field as the 22-year-old’s visibility and passion have drawn comparisons to other high-profile sports couples.
Whilst she became adored by Pittsburgh fans alongside Skenes, it’s unclear if they will ever return to the PNC as home fans with trade rumors surrounding he young MLB ace – with the likes of the New York Yankees said to be interested.
Olivia Dunne jokes with fan after red-faced body moment
Her investment in the Pirates‘ season was particularly evident during Skenes‘ final start of the year as viral clips showed Dunne visibly anxious as she watched her boyfriend from the stands.
At one point, she raised her arms over her head in nervous anticipation, revealing sweat marks under her arms, a moment that quickly spread online, with one fan commenting, “You pit the ‘pit’ in Pittsburgh.”
Dunne quickly responded with humor, replying, “You’d break a sweat too being a Pirates fan.”
The exchange highlighted not only her sense of humor but also the difficult reality of supporting a team that has struggled for consistent success in recent years.
Despite Pittsburgh’s shortcomings, Skenes‘ statistics underscored his individual excellence. Across 32 starts, he recorded 216 strikeouts with a 1.97 ERA, numbers that place him firmly in contention for the National League Cy Young Award.
Still, he finished with a 10-10 record as the Pirates‘ offense failed to provide reliable run support. Reflecting on his performance, Skenes remarked,
“I’m actually worse than I was last year,” Skenes said in a humble comment. “It was 1.96 last year. I’m 1.97 this year.
“Just got to be better. No, it’s cool. I don’t come into the year with any numerical goals.”
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