Olivia Dunne Celebrates LSU Gymnastics' 2nd Straight SEC Title: 'Purple Reign 4Ever'

LSU women’s gymnastics once again proved they are the team to beat in the SEC, clinching their second consecutive conference championship on Saturday. The Tigers, ranked No. 2 going into the tournament, stunned No. 1 Oklahoma with a score of 198.200, leaving the Sooners at 197.925 and the Florida Gators trailing at 197.825.

Lexi Zeiss, Ashley Cowan, and Kailin Chio set an energetic tone on the bars, while Sierra Ballard and Kylie Coen kept the momentum going with strong performances on the beam. The team’s efforts culminated in an impressive beam score of 49.450—marking the highest beam score in LSU’s history at the SEC Championships, according to the school’s report.

Standout gymnasts Konnor McClain, Haileigh Bryant, and Aleah Finnegan each scored at least a 9.925, while Bryant’s incredible performance earned her the individual SEC All-Around title for the second straight year with a total score of 39.725. LSU also dominated on the floor with a score of 49.625 and secured the vault with 49.525 to seal their victory.

Olivia Dunne, a fan favorite despite being sidelined due to injury, joined in the celebration on social media. "Purple reign 4ever," she wrote on her Instagram Stories, sharing a video of confetti raining down as the team soaked up the electric atmosphere of their win.

Looking ahead, LSU aims to make history by achieving back-to-back NCAA championships—a feat last accomplished by Oklahoma in 2022 and 2023. On the individual side, Bryant could follow in Maggie Nichols’ footsteps, becoming the first to win consecutive All-Around titles since Nichols did so in 2018 and 2019.

The Tigers are undoubtedly riding high on their success, and with the talent and determination they’ve shown, they’re poised to be a powerhouse in college gymnastics for seasons to come.