Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes have emerged as a dynamic duo bridging gymnastics and baseball, captivating fans with a relationship that’s been going strong for over a year. The two first connected as student-athletes at LSU, where Dunne rose to fame as a gymnastics standout with a massive social media presence, making her arguably the most recognizable “WAG” (Wife and Girlfriend) in Major League Baseball today.
She’s been a staunch supporter of Skenes since he began his professional career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and can often be seen in the stands cheering him on. Meanwhile, the LSU gymnastics team celebrated another milestone, securing its second straight SEC championship. But Dunne, who was sidelined with an injury, missed the action, though she shared her pride for the team online.
Dunne’s Heartfelt Message to LSU’s Next Power Couple
Even as she recovers, Dunne hasn’t stopped rooting for her LSU teammates. She recently left a touching comment on an Instagram post by Zoe Miller, a three-time national team gymnast, featuring her boyfriend, LSU baseball standout Michael Braswell. The photos showed the couple embracing after the Tigers defeated the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 17-4 on March 25. Dunne wrote, “That’s beautiful,” a simple yet warm nod to their bond. It’s a sweet gesture that underscores her connection to the LSU community and her habit of lifting up those around her, even as she heals.
Moreover, one would think that Dunne, true to her alma mater, would want others to replicate the glory she had with Skenes. While Dunne is a great athlete, the reality is that she has never been a “superstar” like her teammate Haileigh Bryant, who won the SEC individual all-around title for the second year in a row. Bryant will be the key to LSU’s bid for another NCAA championship. But as good as the LSU gymnasts are, it will be very difficult to replicate Dunne’s success in terms of notoriety. She is currently #4 on NIL with a value of 4.1M and more than 13 million followers, making her by far the most famous.
Skenes Shines in MLB Debut Despite Pirates’ Loss
On the baseball diamond, Paul Skenes made waves on MLB Opening Day when he took the mound for the Pirates against the Miami Marlins. At 22 years and 302 days old, he made history as the youngest Pirate to start an Opening Day game since at least 1900 – and the fastest No. 1 draft pick in the league to earn that role. Skenes impressed with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, giving up just two runs on three hits and two walks. But despite his strong outing, the Pirates couldn’t hold on, dropping a 5-4 decision to the Marlins in a walk-off finish after bullpen woes. Watching from the stands, Dunne wasn’t alone-she was joined by Olympic gymnastics icon Aly Raisman and DJ Xandra Pohl, a 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie, adding some extra star power to the day.
Read the full article here
