The inside story of how Olivia Dunne met Paul Skenes and how she helps him cope with fame

As Paul Skenes rises into stardom in MLB during his rookie year, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace spoke about meeting his girlfriend Olivia Dunne and how she helped him cope with fame.

The pair, both LSU products, first sparked dating rumors in June of 2023 when Dunne posted a video wearing Skenes’ jersey for her millions of TikTok followers. By August of that year, Skenes confirmed their relationship.

Speaking to ESPN, Skenes detailed the genesis of his relationship with the LSU gymnastics star and mega influencer.

A friend of Skenes’ was dating Tigers gymnast Elena Arenas and introduced the pitcher to her roommate, Dunne.

Skenes added that he can’t remember if they had sushi, ice cream, or both on their first date. But he recalled trying to go out in the most stealthy manner.

Skenes met Dunne through a friend who dated one of the gymnast’s LSU teammates  

‘If we had been spotted, it would have made waves in Baton Rouge,’ Skenes told ESPN.

When his old friend Doyle Gehring heard chatter about their blooming romance last year, he bluntly asked Skenes: ‘Are you talking to Livvy Dunne?’

‘Well…’ Skenes said, and the silence from the never-finished sentence was enough confirmation.

Now having dated for over a year and their relationship out in the open, Skenes and Dunne have been a headline-grabbing tandem. While some would shy away from their partner’s notoriety, Skenes found Dunne’s fame helpful as he built his own celebrity.

Dunne recently committed to spending another year with the Tigers this fall 

Skenes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft 

Dunne and Skenes stirred dating rumors in June 2023 and confirmed their romance by August

With Dunne’s experience in the limelight, Skenes spoke of how she helped him navigate the world of stardom.

‘She knows how to deal with it, and I know how to deal with it now, too,’ he said. ‘She’s been so good for me.’

While Skenes’ career in the pros has been off to a good start, Dunne committed to returning to Baton Rouge for a fifth season with the Tigers.

Her decision came after the gymnastics team brought LSU’s first NCAA title in the sport back to campus after a dominant season.