USA Today via Reuters
May 11, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) poses with his girlfriend Louisiana State University gymnast Olivia Dunn (right) after making his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. The Pirates won 10-8. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 11, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) poses with his girlfriend Louisiana State University gymnast Olivia Dunn (right) after making his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. The Pirates won 10-8. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Skenes has had a knockout season with a 3-0 record, a 2.43 ERA, and 46 strikeouts in six games, earning him a huge fan following and respect. Among his supporters, none are louder than his girlfriend Olivia Dunne. However, when she missed out on his game, Livvy reacted by saying: “Missing Paul Skenes’ electrifying performance was a wake-up call for me.”
Olivia consistently attends Pittsburgh Pirates games to show her unwavering support. In another display of affection, according to a recent social media post by Dunne, she flew from the Hamptons to Pittsburgh a day early. She didn’t want to miss a moment of his upcoming match against the Cincinnati Reds or his career milestones.
Olivia Dunne’s journey to witness Paul Skenes’ next game
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Recently, Olivia Dunne took to Snapchat and shared glimpses of her departure from South Hamptons, including moments with her beloved dog Roux, as she made her way to Pittsburgh. The snap was of her posing with a freckled and sun-kissed face as she wrote, “Hello Pittsburgh!” quickly followed by another Southampton snap that read, “fav place.” Dunne is in Pittsburgh to witness the next match between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds. Her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, is an instrumental part of the Pirates as they compete in the MLB this season. Olivia missed the previous match because she was spending time with her friends, enjoying the summer and the waves in Montauk and the Hamptons in New York.
However, she told BR walkoff how she is always on the sideline, hoping Paul Skenes does well. In fact, she gets more nervous for him than before performing a routine herself. She said, “I get more nervous watching Paul because it’s just different when you’re not doing it and you’re not in control”. But she is confident in his abilities and she channels those nerves into excitement for him. In this upcoming matchup, the Pittsburgh Pirates enter as favorites with a solid track record, having won 12 out of 28 games where they were favored this season. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds have shown resilience as underdogs, securing 15 wins out of 39 games where they were not favored. Olivia Dunne arrived a day early for her boyfriend’s next match to boost spirits and fully support the Pirates.
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Paul Skenes has been having a knockout debut season. In the previous match, Skenes threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out eight batters. He gave up only five hits without issuing any walks. As a result, the Pirates won the game 2-1 against the Guardians. Dunne also expressed her admiration for him from the start saying, “This is probably one of my favorite moments I’ve ever seen. Seriously, there is nothing that can top this. I’m just so proud.”Even in the match against the Cardinals, Skenes received a standing ovation as he was called off the pitch. The gesture from rival teams’ fans shows why Skenes topped the MLB draft. Olivia Dunne’s steadfast presence highlights the personal and professional stakes as the Pirates prepare to face the Reds.
Olivia Dunne’s support ahead of Reds vs. Pirates game
Moving forward into the MLB season, Paul Skenes is expected to maintain his momentum. He has been consistently reaching around 100 mph with his pitches and has racked up 46 strikeouts in just 33.1 innings. Fans are eager to watch him dominate the field once again. Supporting him from the stands will be his girlfriend, Olivia Dunne. In fact, the two made the six-hour journey to Skenes’ debut match against the Chicago Cubs together. Dunne even joked that she had never packed faster in her life. She attended the match in full Pirates gear, sporting a badge with Skenes’ face on it.
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Olivia Dunne recalled the match saying, “I cried. I was just so proud of him and I know how hard he worked for that very moment and the work that he puts in every day.” During the game against the LA Dodgers, the Pirates won 10-6, and Dunne posted an Instagram story wearing a Pirates hat. She scheduled a long-haul flight to be there, then quickly flew to New York and Florida for Sports Illustrated’s launch parties. Ever since LSU’s latest NCAA win, which was the first for the women’s gymnastics team, Dunne has been spotted traveling to and from Skenes’ matches.
Since Olivia has not confirmed her return for another year at the university, she has more time on her hands. She attended the St. Louis Cardinals match and returned to Pittsburgh to watch Skenes’ third big league start against the San Francisco Giants. She even made multiple TikToks from the match, captioned “You’re doing amazing sweetie” and “POV: You’re in your WAG era,” displaying her continued support for him. The couple clearly lend each other unwavering support, setting new relationship goals for people around the world. Their bond serves as an inspiration to many. Dunne’s presence promises to bring an extra layer of support to Skenes and the Pirates. Her enthusiasm will resonate as they face off against their rivals tomorrow.
