- NCAA. Olivia Dunne just secured a historic place among college athletes but her unexplained absence from LSU is stirring controversy
- NCAA. Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes celebrate Valentine's Day like Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost
Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes have become one of the most talked-about power couples in sports. Dunne, the LSU gymnastics star, has built a massive following beyond her sport, amassing nearly 14 million fans on TikTok and Instagram. Her NIL valuation currently stands at an impressive $4.1 million, making her the most valuable female college athlete; in fact, if you combine the value of second- and third-place Flau'jae Johnson ($1.5 million) and Paige Bueckers ($1.5 million), Dunne still beats them by over a million.
She's also making appearances at major events, most recently as the grand marshal of the Endymion Parade, a New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition that has featured Hollywood icons like Kevin Costner and David Schwimmer. Meanwhile, Skenes, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, has quickly established himself as a key piece of the Pittsburgh Pirates' future. The former College World Series champion posted an 11-3 record with a stellar 1.96 ERA in his first MLB season.
Dunne Valentines Day with Paul Skenes
Despite their success, the couple has had to navigate the challenges of a long-distance relationship. On Valentine's Day, Dunne shared a lighthearted but revealing video about their situation. The clip showed her laughing before suddenly looking sad, with the caption, "Me laughing until I I'm doing long distance until my season is over." While she and Skenes were together for the holidays, according to one of Dunne's Instagram posts, it's unclear if their recent meeting was just for the occasion or if it had happened before.
Throughout Skenes' rookie season, Dunne traveled extensively to him, making the 1,148-mile trip from Baton Rouge to Pittsburgh several times. She attended his MLB debut against the Cubs in May and ed him on the MLB All-Star red carpet in July. Despite her demanding gymnastics schedule and numerous NIL commitments, she remained a constant presence on his travels.
As Dunne's gymnastics career draws to a close, she won't have to juggle the distance for much longer. Once her final NCAA season is over, she'll have the freedom to spend more time with Skenes, though it also means saying goodbye to LSU and the teammates she's spent years with. However, her recent absence from back-to-back games against ranked opponents Missouri and Alabama has raised questions about her commitment to the team. With no reports of injury and no official explanation from head coach Jay Clark, speculation has grown as to where her priorities truly lie.
Meanwhile, Skenes is preparing for a pivotal season. After a dominant rookie year, he's expected to take on an even bigger role in the Pirates' rotation as they look to make their first postseason appearance since 2015. With both of their careers on the rise, the future of the pair will be closely watched both on and off the field.