Livvy Dunne Opens Up About How She Met Paul Skenes at LSU

Olivia 'Livvy' Dunne and Paul Skenes started dating in 2023 though a digital unawareness from the pitcher nearly thwarted them getting together.

Livvy Dunne Opens Up About How She Met Paul Skenes at LSU

Paul Skenes, Livvy Dunne (Image via GQ)

In Short
  • Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes met at LSU, where Skenes was a standout pitcher and Dunne was a prominent gymnast.
  • Their initial contact via Instagram was unsuccessful, leading to a proper introduction through mutual friends at a concert.
  • Dunne has a superstitious game-day ritual of cheering for Skenes, which includes screaming before every pitch he throws.

Olivia ‘Livvy’ Dunne and Paul Skenes are one of the most iconic sports couples. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace pitcher and the gymnast-turned-social-media-influencer were, however, almost not a couple.

In a beautiful twist of events, the pair ended up together, and their story could be one for a modern rom-com. The pair met during their time at LSU, while Skenes was establishing his dominance on the mound for LSU following his transfer from the Air Force Academy, and Dunne had already solidified her status as a cultural phenomenon and a pioneer in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era.

When Dunne initially attempted to initiate contact via Instagram, she was met with digital silence. Skenes, preoccupied with training and academic obligations, simply neglected to check his notifications. Dunne had recalled in last year’s interview with GQSports:

He wouldn’t follow me back on Instagram. I was like, ‘Who is this kid and why won’t he follow me back?

Despite the initial digital stalemate, mutual acquaintances intervened to orchestrate a proper introduction, a group outing at a country music concert. Following the success of their initial group interaction, Skenes asked Dunne out for ice cream. The tried-and-tested method worked out perfectly for the two.

According to Dunne, by their second official outing, it was abundantly clear to her that she loved him. There was the ‘hard-to-get,’ ‘miscommunication,’ and ‘matchmakers,’ all elements required in a romantic comedy. Since then, their relationship has bloomed, and the pair has seamlessly integrated their high-profile careers. Livvy Dunne is a frequent, highly visible fixture in the stands, while Skenes joins in her content.

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Livvy Dunne has a superstitious ritual before every Paul Skenes pitch

In an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the host brought out the GQSports article that called the pair, ‘Gen Z’s It Couple.’

Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne (Image via People)
Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne (Image via People)

Livvy Dunne spoke of their first meeting at LSU and life before Paul Skenes was the pitcher everyone has come to know and love. She also addressed her intense, hyper-specific game-day ritual. She admitted that her dedication from the stands requires a monumental vocal effort. Dunne told Jimmy Fallon:

I’m a little superstitious. I have to scream before every single pitch, ‘Let’s go Paul.’ And everybody around me is kind of like, ‘What is wrong with this girl? 100 pitches, and I would scream 100 times. It’s a lot of screaming.‘

Dunne also brought up the game before her appearance, where the Pittsburgh Pirates played the Colorado Rockies. Skenes had a spectacular performance, throwing six no-hit innings in the game. He began the game by striking out his first six batters and held his opponent hitless until the seventh inning, lowering his ERA to 1.98 across his first 50 innings pitched.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Skenes is the first Pirates pitcher since the 1961 Expansion Era to strike out the side in order three times in a single game. The only Major League pitcher to achieve this four times in a game was Kerry Wood during his 20-strikeout performance for the Cubs against the Astros on May 6, 1998.

Additionally, Elias notes that Skenes is just one of four MLB pitchers since 1900 to deliver consecutive starts of at least eight scoreless innings with two or fewer hits and no walks, joining Cy Young (1905 Red Sox), Billy Pierce (1958 White Sox), and Mat Latos (2010 Padres).

A week before, the reigning Cy Young award recipient wiped out the Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing eight brilliant innings with just two hits and no runs allowed while retiring the first 14 batters he faced.

After Dunne’s appearance, the Pirates have played four more games, twice each with the Rockies and the Phillies. They managed just one win against the Rockies and lost both bouts to the Phillies. They have one more game before the series winds up.

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