A new era began in Pittsburgh with the debut of Pirates rookie Paul Skenes, who received just as much attention for his performance on the field as for his relationship with social media sensation and LSU gymnast, Olivia “Livvy” Dunne. MLB hyped up Dunne’s entrance into the “WAG era” – standing for “wives and girlfriends” – just as much as Skenes’ debut. In an interview with SportsNet Pittsburgh, Dunne expressed her nerves watching from the stands and her confidence in Skenes during his big league debut against the Chicago Cubs. Dunne’s popularity and status as one of the nation’s highest-paid NIL athletes in college sports added to the buzz surrounding her presence at PNC Park.
Dunne, who recently won an NCAA national championship with LSU’s gymnastics team, has a massive social media following with over 13.3 million followers across various platforms. Fans closely monitored her social media accounts for any hints about Skenes getting called up to the majors. Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft, was excelling in Triple-A Indianapolis before receiving the call to join the Pirates in the big leagues. The couple received the news while waking up from a nap and quickly prepared for the move to Pittsburgh.
Skenes’ debut game had a packed crowd at PNC Park, eager to watch the rookie pitcher face off against the Cubs. Skenes didn’t disappoint, striking out his first two batters with a fastball clocking in at 102 mph and reaching 100 mph a total of 17 times throughout the game. Dunne expressed her pride and admiration for Skenes, highlighting the hard work and dedication he put in to reach this moment. As long as Skenes continues his MLB career, Dunne will be by his side to support him, hinting at more content featuring them on the league’s social media accounts in the future.
The sports world has seen the NFL successfully leverage the popularity of pop star Taylor Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and MLB could be looking to tap into a similar demographic by highlighting Dunne’s connection to Skenes. Dunne’s presence at PNC Park, along with her social media following and status as a high-profile athlete, adds a new element of interest to the Pirates and MLB as a whole. With Dunne’s support, Skenes will continue to navigate his professional baseball career while fans eagerly anticipate more moments and updates from the couple both on and off the field.
Overall, the debut of Paul Skenes and the entrance of Olivia “Livvy” Dunne into the “WAG era” in Pittsburgh brought a new dynamic to the Pirates and MLB. The attention surrounding their relationship, combined with Dunne’s social media following and Skenes’ promising performance on the field, created a buzz in the sports world. As they embark on this new chapter together, fans can expect to see more of the couple’s journey and experiences shared through various platforms, showcasing both their personal and professional lives as they navigate the highs and lows of the baseball season.
