It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Not for LSU, and definitely not for the sea of purple-and-gold fans who believed this was their year. But heartbreak came swiftly on Thursday night, as LSU finished third in the NCAA championship semifinals, falling just short of the top two needed to advance. Their score of 197.5250, while solid, couldn’t edge out UCLA and Utah, who clinched the coveted final spots. What stings even more is how close the margins were.
The disappointment was loud, but not louder than the emotional comment left by Julz Dunne. For LSU fans, it echoed what they were already feeling. Olivia, one of the program’s biggest stars and a key contributor in past seasons, had been sidelined due to a painful avulsion fracture in her kneecap. While she cheered from the sidelines, her absence was deeply felt on the floor. And now, with the season brought to an abrupt end, the sense of unfinished business lingers.
Julz Dunne added in her Instagram story, “It’s been a pleasure. Forever cheering you on,” alongside a heartfelt photo of her and Olivia watching from the stands. The image said it all. Two sisters, side by side, emotionally tethered to a team that came up just short. For Julz, this wasn’t just a sibling moment, it was the closing chapter of something she had lived through vicariously, as Olivia fought through the highs and heartbreaks of NCAA gymnastics. And while fans felt the loss deeply, the Dunnes felt it personally.
What made this year so different, so raw, was the resolve Olivia Dunne brought into the season. Fans took to social media to vent and process the shock. “Not sure why we averaged a 9.8 the entire meet…” one user commented, while another put it into perspective, writing, “They had an incredible season. And when you’re so consistent, you are bound to have those off days. It’s heartbreaking but it’s normal.” But perhaps the most stinging take came from someone doing the math aloud, “LSU 197.525. Missouri 197.300. Missouri IN finals, LSU OUT of finals. Make it make sense. ” For a team that had shown such dominance all year, despite adversity, despite injuries, it felt like a cruel ending. And for Olivia and Julz, whose hearts were tied to every salute and stumble, it was an emotional goodbye wrapped in quiet strength.
After being mocked last year as merely a “cheerleader” due to her limited participation, Olivia returned with a purpose. But fate had other plans. An avulsion fracture in her kneecap ended her competition hopes early. LSU head coach Jay Clark himself admitted how bizarre and painful the injury was, noting, “That generally happens to people who have been in car accidents or some sort of blunt force trauma.” Dunne couldn’t recall any such incident. All she could do was support her team from the sidelines, again. But this time, nobody questioned her presence. Instead, they felt her absence.
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