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The gymnastics career of influencer Livvy Dunne is over after 20 years, and life without the one thing that took up so much of her time is something she’s still processing. Dunne, who began gymnastics when she was just three years old, spent five years at LSU and won an NCAA title with the Tigers […]

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The gymnastics career of influencer Livvy Dunne is over after 20 years, and life without the one thing that took up so much of her time is something she’s still processing.

Dunne, who began gymnastics when she was just three years old, spent five years at LSU and won an NCAA title with the Tigers in 2024. During her time in Baton Rouge, she also began sharing gymnastics videos on social media, which seemingly skyrocketed her fame overnight and helped her become an NIL trailblazer.

Dunne is no longer competing, but says gymnastics will never leave her, and she’ll always be a gymnast at heart. She currently maintains relationships with her LSU teammates, who have now become sisters to her as she maneuvers through what’s next.

“I think the transition from being a DI athlete [in] any sport to no longer doing your passion ― I think that is a very hard transition,” Dunne told For The Win while promoting her partnership with Invisalign. “Gymnastics consumed so much of my childhood, so to no longer do it anymore is crazy. It really is.”

For The Win recently sat down with Dunne to talk about life after gymnastics, the pitch she “taught” her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, and her head-turning split on the Sports Illustrated runway.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Are there any recommended changes you would make to the NIL system to better help women athletes?GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Olivia Dunne of the LSU Tigers looks on before a meet against the Florida Gators at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on February 23, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)NIL, that world, is constantly evolving. I think that no matter what, I will always advocate for women’s sports. I started a fund at LSU called the Livvy Fund, and it’s to help provide NIL deals for female athletes. I’m going to continue doing that. I think that’s part of my legacy as a college athlete at LSU. I would love to help keep providing NIL deals and help educating women on working with brands and getting those deals, because it’s definitely more difficult as a female athlete to get NIL.

For most men, I think they’re being paid to play ― some of the top NIL earners ― and that’s not the case for women. I did brand deals. I worked with brands to get the revenue. So, to help women, educate them, help them get deals, help them be the bosses of their own life, I think that’s so important.

What do you think it would mean to Simone Biles to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?Aug 5, 2024; Paris, France; Simone Biles of the United States poses for a photo with her three gold and one silver medal after day three of the gymnastics event finals during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsI think she’s already so accomplished. She’s been the GOAT in my eyes. She is the GOAT, and I think if she goes to L.A. … That would make it her fourth Olympics. This is her, I don’t know, third victory lap. That would be crazy. She definitely could do it.I’m not sure if it’s in the cards for her. I don’t know if she wants to, but she’s the best gymnast of all time, and I have nothing but respect for her as an athlete and as a person.How did you manage to get through your Sports Illustrated cover shoot with an injured knee?

I had no choice but to be in the zone because I was actually at the end of my gymnastics season, and we had a day off after the Auburn gymnastics meet that we competed at. Flew right to Bermuda. Did the photo shoot on a fractured kneecap. Didn’t know I was shooting for a cover. They hadn’t told me. So, I was just doing a normal shoot. Took some pain medicine for my knee.It was really fun. I love working with Sports Illustrated. They make me feel confident. I smiled. My smile makes me feel confident during my photoshoots, and even if I get nervous, my default is to go back to a smile, take a deep breath, smile. Get the shot I need. I flew back to school, and I was told that I got a cover. It was pretty crazy. It all happened so fast, and I was so excited.

Who triple-dog dared you to do a split on the Sports Illustrated runway?Well, I tweeted that I got triple-dog dared. It was just a joke. It was funny because it was pretty spur of the moment. We had a rehearsal. We did the walkthrough. We did the rehearsal of the runway show, and I did not do a split. I kind of just thought of it while I was laying on the beach. I consulted with my sister, and I did it. I just had to do it. It felt right in the moment. And it was fun …It was the most fun runway show ever. It was the only one I’ve never been to, but I had a blast. They had me open the show, which I have never even walked on a runway. So, it was pretty surreal to open the Sports Illustrated runway show. I had to pull out a split because it felt right.Jun 3, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) reacts after recording a strike-out against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesOooo. I think Paul could be a good bar swinger because of how tall he is. His lines would be beautiful.I don’t really think that he could do any specific skill because he’s too scared of getting hurt, but I think he could be good at swinging bars. I think that he would have a very nice line.Is there a pitch that you know you could pull off on a baseball field?Yeah, a splinker. I taught him that in the offseason. [said with a serious face]

No, I’m kidding. I didn’t teach him that, but I think I could do it.

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Legendary college football coach gives unfiltered take on NIL and transfer portal

Former Boise State and Washington Huskies head coach Chris Petersen had some interesting takes on the current state of college football. NIL and the transfer portal. While Peterson is no longer the head coach, he still holds an advisory role with the Washington Huskies, which requires him to address NIL and transfer portal issues within […]

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Former Boise State and Washington Huskies head coach Chris Petersen had some interesting takes on the current state of college football. NIL and the transfer portal. While Peterson is no longer the head coach, he still holds an advisory role with the Washington Huskies, which requires him to address NIL and transfer portal issues within the program. Petersen seemed to understand that NIL is suitable for the players and acknowledged that coaches are on board with it. His main problems lie in the transfer portal and tampering issues that appear to be rampant in college football.

” But there’s no question, you know, the NIL, I think most people in the game-the coaches, the players, the admin-they get the NIL. I think everybody’s on board with that. There’s no question it’s the transfer portal, and the tampering, and a player going to five schools in five years, and all of that, and you’re right. It’s not better for the kids in the long run. There’s just no real structure to it. And I will tell you, not on the sidelines, my whole heart and soul are into the greater good of college football. And it’s just like I worry.  I talk to many fans, like you, who are getting increasingly fed up with the college game.”

– Former college coach Chris Petersen

Petersen acknowledges that adapting to NIL and transfer portal rules is the only way to succeed moving forward. Even with the House ruling that attempted to limit spending in NIL, it was not enough. Outside entities and corporations still can create NIL partnerships with athletes. That circumvents the House ruling and remains legal based on the Supreme Court’s ruling. The best teams and programs are moving forward and getting ahead of the NIL and transfer portal, using them to their advantage and building programs loaded with talent ready to make an instant impact.

Sander

ASU Sun Devils defensive lineman Anthonie Cooper (96) tries to block the pass of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The $1 million WR’s recruitment heats up between LSU, Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and others

Oregon Football star QB Dante Moore gives back with heartfelt gift to hometown alma mater

College coaching legend John Calipari has a hilarious take on NIL money

Star Ohio State football commit Brady Edmunds using NIL money for the greater good

Texas A&M star WR KC Concepcion will be cashing in on and off the field in 2025



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Kentucky Wildcats basketball player on list of biggest NIL valuations

Anyone who follows college sports knows that NIL has changed the way teams are built, and have changed the way players decide where to play. The Kentucky Wildcats used NIL to assemble a very good roster, and put together one of the best transfer classes in college basketball. Fox Sports put together the top ten […]

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Anyone who follows college sports knows that NIL has changed the way teams are built, and have changed the way players decide where to play. The Kentucky Wildcats used NIL to assemble a very good roster, and put together one of the best transfer classes in college basketball.

Fox Sports put together the top ten NIL valuations in college basketball for the 2025-26 season using On3’s valuations. It features some of the biggest names in the sport, and one player from Kentucky made the list.

Jayden Quaintance was once set to commit to the Wildcats out of high school, but a coaching change sent him to Arizona State instead. However, after a season there, Mark Pope pulled off a huge coup and got him back to Lexington.

With a valuation of $1.9 million, Quaintance comes in sixth among college basketball players this season. It also puts him at 26th among all college athletes.

Quaintance is sure to earn more than that with various endorsement deals, and he could become a top ten draft pick in a year, earning much more. Kentucky reportedly spent a lot of NIL money to assemble the roster, with Quaintance at the top of the list. Fans will see if it paid off soon enough.



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Louisville basketball’s most important game isn’t against Arkansas or Tennessee

Louisville basketball has recently learned that it will face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge. While this quickly emerges as one of Louisville’s top matchups on the 2025-26 calendar, one matchup still stands out above all others. The Cardinals have a thrilling out-of-conference schedule as Pat Kelsey and his staff created […]

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Louisville basketball has recently learned that it will face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge. While this quickly emerges as one of Louisville’s top matchups on the 2025-26 calendar, one matchup still stands out above all others.

The Cardinals have a thrilling out-of-conference schedule as Pat Kelsey and his staff created one of the best schedules in college basketball. The Cardinals’ November and December schedule is set to be extremely exciting and championship-caliber basketball, making it clear that the Cards have their eyes set on a deep March and April run.

Louisville will be battle-tested numerous times before the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and Arkansas is emerging as one of the fans’ favorite matchups, but it is clear that a different SEC giant is still Louisville’s biggest matchup of the 2025-26 season.

Related: The glaring truth behind Louisville basketball’s blockbuster showdown with Arkansas

Louisville basketball’s most important game isn’t against Arkansas or Tennessee

The Cardinals’ date is set for their blockbuster showdown with Arkansas, as the two historical programs will tip-off from Bud Walton Arena on Dec. 3. These two programs will be led by multiple 5-star recruits and future NBA stars, but the silver lining of this matchup is the Cardinals seeking revenge against John Calipari.

Louisville had a 3-13 record against Coach Cal during his 15 seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats. The former Wildcats head coach is one of Louisville basketball fan’s most hated coaches, making this massive showdown in December one of the most anticipated matchups for all of college basketball.

However, the Cardinals’ showdown on Nov. 11 from KFC Yum! Center against their biggest rival, the Kentucky Wildcats, is still the clear No. 1 matchup of the season. Louisville has matchups against Kansas, Duke, Memphis, Cincinnati, and Tennessee as well, but that rivalry showdown on a Tuesday in Louisville, Ky., in front of 22,000, is still the most anticipated matchup next season.

Both programs had massive transfer potential, as both programs’ classes are ranked in the top five in the nation. Kentucky was able to land one 5-star and four 4-star recruits, which has them ranked No. 5 in the nation. Meanwhile, Louisville earned one 5-star and two 4-star recruits and surpassed Kentucky at No. 4 in the country, according to 247Sports rankings.

The Wildcats also boast a top-five 2025 class, having landed four 4-star recruits, all of whom rank in the top 35. Louisville was able to land one 5-star and one 4-star recruit, both ranked in the top 25, according to 247Sports.

On top of all that, these two programs hate each other. Louisville and Kentucky are one of the best rivalries in all of sports, both collegiate and professional. These two programs have met 57 times, dating back to 1912.

With both programs having a legitimate shot at a Final Four run and Louisville having a massive opportunity to end their four-game losing streak to the Wildcats, it is crystal clear that this remains the No. 1 matchup on Kelsey’s roster.

This is the game fans want the most. This game means more to me than any other. A win over Kentucky that early in the season would set their sights immediately on a National Title and start the season on an extremely high note.

While many would like the game to be in December, that is for another conversation. However, for now, Louisville has a golden opportunity to get revenge on the Kentucky Wildcats this upcoming season.

Related: Louisville basketball’s 3 biggest non-conference games in 2025

For all the latest on Louisville basketball’s offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.



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Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers was offered $8 million to enter the transfer portal

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is one of the best returning players at his position in 2025 and other teams have taken notice of his talent. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman wrote an article on June 16 detailing an $8 million offer for Sellers to transfer this offseason. NIL and pay to play has been a […]

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South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is one of the best returning players at his position in 2025 and other teams have taken notice of his talent. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman wrote an article on June 16 detailing an $8 million offer for Sellers to transfer this offseason.

NIL and pay to play has been a big topic in the college football world for years. Under NCAA rules, programs aren’t allowed to contact players who have not entered the transfer portal, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening, as is the case with Sellers.

Seller’s father spoke with The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman about those under the table conversations. One such conversation included one school who offered the young quarterback $8 million to leave Columbia. Here’s what his father had to say about the situation.

“He was offered all kinds of crazy numbers,” Norris said. “I told him he could say, I’m gonna stay or I’m gonna go. By my two cents: It was to get into college on a scholarship, play ball, get our degree and go on about our business. This NIL deal came later. We didn’t come here to make money. We came here to get our education, play ball, and with schools calling, we’re not gonna jump ship because they’re offering more than what we’re getting. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Sellers is coming off a big 2024 campaign that saw him throw for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns to go along with 674 yards rushing and another seven touchdowns. He signed a new NIL deal with the Gamecocks shortly after the regular season. Sellers says “no reason to go someplace else.”

“I’ve been playing football all of my life for free,” LaNorris added. “I’ve built relationships here, my family’s here, my brother’s here. There’s no reason for me to go someplace else and start over.”

And it’s clear his teammates love having him around too.

“Having 16 as my quarterback [LaNorris Sellers] is a blessing.,” Gamecocks receiver Nyck Harbor said. “Not everybody gets to play with the top quarterback.”

Join the community:

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No-hit loss won’t erase the lifetime memories made by Murray State during its improbable run

Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The stands at Charles Schwab Field were emptying, and Murray State players wanted to savor their program’s first College World Series as long as they could. Never mind the Racers had just been no-hit by Arkansas’ Gage Wood in a 3-0 loss that will send them home to southwestern […]

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Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The stands at Charles Schwab Field were emptying, and Murray State players wanted to savor their program’s first College World Series as long as they could.

Never mind the Racers had just been no-hit by Arkansas’ Gage Wood in a 3-0 loss that will send them home to southwestern Kentucky on Tuesday.

Some of the players filled jars with infield dirt, a keepsake from their improbable journey to the city where every college baseball team wants to be in June. Some milled about with family and friends.

“One of my wife’s favorite movies is “A League of Their Own,” and they said there’s no crying in baseball,” an emotional coach Dan Skirka said to open his postgame news conference with 9-year-old son Keegan on his knee. “Well, throw that out the window. There’s no way I’m making it through this right here.”

The Racers were the first Missouri Valley Conference team to make the CWS since 2003 and only the fourth No. 4 regional seed to get to Omaha since the NCAA Tournament went to its current format in 1999.

They swept conference regular-season and tournament championships, beat No. 10 national seed Mississippi of the SEC twice on its home field and Georgia Tech of the ACC once en route to a regional title. Then the Racers went to Duke of the ACC for super regionals and lost the opener before winning two straight to punch their ticket to Omaha.

Murray State overcame early jitters in its CWS opener against UCLA, falling behind 6-0, and lost 6-4.

As for their game against Arkansas, the Racers just happened to run into a pitcher who threw one of the greatest games in college baseball history — a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts, a record in a nine-inning CWS game and tied for most by a Division I pitcher this season.

“We never lost faith. Haven’t all year. We’re not about to start now,” third baseman Carson Garner said. “About halfway through the game, I think we realized that, ‘Hey, this guy’s, he’s dealing, he’s throwing a perfect game.’ ”

Murray State finished 44-17 to set a program record for wins, ending the season with only its second shutout loss.

“The wins are phenomenal. We had a lot of them,” said Jonathan Hogart, who led the Racers with 22 homers. “You just can’t match the culture we have here. I’m going to miss Coach, I’m going to miss these two (Garner and Dustin Mercer). I’m going to miss every one of these guys. Strap on the cleats to go to war with these guys was such a blessing this year, and I’ll never take it for granted.”

Skirka, who finished his seventh season at the Racers’ coach, put together a roster made up of eight Division I transfers, 14 from junior colleges and 14 high school recruits. Skirka said no one on his team was making money from endorsements or other name, image and likeness opportunities.

“You say at the end of the year only one team’s happy,” Skirka said. “That ain’t the case this year. There’s definitely more than one because these guys, the run they went on, you’re not going to be able to wipe the smile off their face for a really long time. That’s what I told them. They’re going to share this for ages and people are going to ask them about it for ages, and that’s really the cool thing.”

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports



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Wood’s No-Hitter Continues Hogs’ College World Series Campaign

OMAHA, Neb. – Fueled by Gage Wood’s no-hitter and near perfect game, Arkansas kept its postseason hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Murray State at the College World Series on Monday afternoon inside Charles Schwab Field. Wood was incredible in throwing just the third no-hitter in College World Series history and only the 11th […]

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OMAHA, Neb. – Fueled by Gage Wood’s no-hitter and near perfect game, Arkansas kept its postseason hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Murray State at the College World Series on Monday afternoon inside Charles Schwab Field.

Wood was incredible in throwing just the third no-hitter in College World Series history and only the 11th solo no-hitter in Arkansas school history. He joins Jim Ehler of Texas in 1950 and Jim Wixson of Oklahoma State in 1960 as the only pitchers to record no-hitters in the CWS. Wood’s 19 strikeouts broke the school record in his first-ever complete game. His 19 punch outs eclipsed the record held by Hagen Smith (2024) and Jess Todd (2007), who both struck out 17.

Wood set the CWS record for consecutive outs, retiring the first 21 batters he faced on Monday before a 2-2 breaking ball hit the back foot of Dom Decker to open the eighth inning. The perfect game bid was the longest since 1999 in the CWS.

Wood breezed through the Murray State lineup the first time through, striking out five of the nine Racers in their first at-bat. The Batesville, Ark. native rolled through the third and fourth innings, striking out the side in both before striking out Decker to start the fifth for seven straight punch outs. He then fielded a ground ball to the first base side of the mound and raced to first for the second out before he added his 11th strikeout to end the fifth.

He added a pair of strikeouts in the sixth and one more in the seventh to retire 21 straight to start the game. After hitting Decker to open the eighth inning, Wood quickly got back to work by getting Luke Mistone to foul out to Ryder Helfrick behind the plate then racked up two more strikeouts to extend his no-hit bid to the ninth.

Back out for the ninth inning, Wood was still reaching 97-98 mph with his fastball. Pinch hitter Nico Bermeo looked to have been the second Racer to reach base when he was hit in the elbow by a 2-2 pitch but, after review, the umpires overturned the call and called Bermeo out by rule – in college baseball a pitch is called a strike when a batter is ruled to have intentionally allowed the ball to hit him. With strikeout No. 16 in the books, Wood blew fastballs by fellow Batesville native and Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Conner Cunningham for the second out. With history hanging in the balance, Wood finished it off in style with his 19th strikeout of the afternoon against the Racers’ best hitter in Jonathan Hogart. Wood’s 19 strikeouts is one shy of the CWS record 20 set in 1965 by Steve Arlin in Ohio State’s 1-0 win over Washington in 15 innings.

While Wood was dominating on the mound, the Hogs were struggling to get into gear at the plate. A Reese Robinett double led off the top of the third inning before Charles Davalan scratched the first run of the afternoon with a single. That run was more than enough for Wood but his teammates added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning.

Leadoff singles from Justin Thomas Jr. and Davalan put runners on the corners for Wehiwa Aloy. The SEC Player of the Year pounded a double inside the third base bag and down the left field line to stretch the lead to two runs. Davalan scored on an error by Murray State’s outfielder to cap the rally and increase the Arkansas lead to three runs.

Thomas led all players with a career-best four hits on the day as Arkansas collected 10 hits on the afternoon. Davalan and Aloy chipped in a pair of hits apiece in the win.

Arkansas advances to tomorrow night when the Hogs will take on the loser of LSU/UCLA at 6 p.m.

Records Set by Gage Wood in CWS No-Hitter

  • Arkansas school record for single-game strikeouts – 19
  • 11th solo no-hitter in Arkansas school history
  • 3rd no-hitter in CWS history
  • 9th no-hitter in NCAA tournament history
  • Most strikeouts in a single game of 9 innings or fewer in CWS History
  • Most single-game strikeouts in Charles Schwab Field Era of CWS
  • 1st complete game in CWS since 2018 Oregon State’s Kevin Abel
  • 124th CWS Shutout

How Gage Wood Threw the Third No-Hitter in College World Series History
1st Inning
Jonathan Hogart – Fly out to RF
Dustin Mercer – K
Carson Garner – K

2nd Inning
Dom Decker – K looking
Luke Mistone – groundout to 2B
Will Vierling – Fly out to RF

3rd Inning
Dan Tauken – K
Charlie Jury – K looking
Conner Cunningham – K

4th Inning
Jonathan Hogart – K
Dustin Mercer – K
Carson Garner – K looking

5th Inning
Dom Decker – K looking
Luke Mistone – groundout to P
Will Vierling – K looking

6th Inning
Dan Tauken – groundout to P
Charlie Jury – K
Conner Cunningham – K

7th Inning
Jonathan Hogart – K
Dustin Mercer – groundout to SS
Carson Garner – groundout to 1B

8th Inning
Dom Decker – HBP
Luke Mistone – foul out to C
Will Vierling – K
Dan Tauken – K

9th Inning
Nico Bermeo – K (HBP overturned for strike three)
Conner Cunningham – K
Jonathan Hogart – K looking

For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).





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