Now THAT is how you close! The LSU Tigers walked into the Legacy Arena on Friday as the defending SEC champions. Hours later, they walked out as the reclaimers of that throne. Yes, the SEC Championships 2025 are wrapped, and we finally have a winner. Once again, it’s the girls in purple and gold. After one of their most challenging seasons ever, they still prevailed and shone when it mattered the most. But what about the nation’s top team? Well left in dust! But how?

Many thought 2025 was all about the LSU Tigers being absolutely battered. Key players were down, and injuries dismantled their lineups.  One example right now is LSU super senior Olivia Dunne, who is suffering from an avulsion fracture. Also, Chase Brock was ruled out mid-season due to an Achilles injury. But the same naysayers who once questioned the side now watched LSU write their best comeback story so far this Friday.

Yes, the No. 2 LSU Gymnastics team has clinched their 6th SEC title in history. With a record-high score of 198.200 this season, they left no scope for error. On their way to the glass trophy, they thwarted the No. 1 side, Oklahoma, who came in second in session 2, with 197.925 on the board. And the best part? This happens to be LSU’s second straight win after they won both the SEC and NCAA titles last year.

If we look at the margins, the LSU Tigers managed to win by a 0.275 margin over the second-placed Sooners. This gap kept gradually increasing to a 0.375 margin over Florida and a 0.800 margin over Missouri, who finished fourth in the session. In fact, if we compare this year’s scores with LSU’s SEC scores from last year, this is still a tad less than the 0.325-point win that they had secured over Alabama. However, it is still a fairly wide margin. After all, this was the best score in LSU’s history at the SEC Championships. Perfect for a day when they had to defend.

Here’s more on how the event progressed. LSU took an early lead after rotation 1 itself. They started out on the uneven bars, where freshman Lexi Zeiss started things off. And Ashley Cowan followed. Next up, Kailin Chio, Aleah Finnegan, Konnor McClain, and Haleigh Bryant were the names who wrapped up this rotation. Through the second beam event, the LSU Tigers remained in the lead courtesy of strong 9.9+ outings from the same lot, McClain, Bryant, and Finnegan.

But rotation 3 is where things changed. They slipped to the second spot, losing the lead to the Florida Gators. They posted their second-highest SEC floor score, 49.625. But guess that wasn’t enough. However, when it all came down to the vault, the Tigers didn’t disappoint. Zeis, Finnegan, Chio, and Bryant all scored 4 consecutive 9.900+ routines. This not only won their lead back but also became the largest lead of the night for the program. And just like that, they secured their final spot. And here’s how Olivia Dunne reacted to the win.

Where was Olivia Dunne ahead of the LSU Tigers’ SEC session?

Right before the meet, Olivia Dunne added a mirror selfie, dressed in an LSU leotard. No, Dunne did not show up on the mats. She is currently battling a fracture in the leg. But she still added a mirror selfie with KJ Johnson and wrote, “SEC’s baby.”  Clearly, whether she is competing or not, Livvy is always out there to support her clan, as she was before the SEC session.

Right after the LSU Tigers won the trophy, Livvy added an image of the squad lifting the glass moment and wrote, “Purple Reign 4ever.” She even added a selfie surrounded by confetti and her teammates. Wearing the Big Ten Champion hat, Livvy wrote, “SEC CHAMPS BABY!” 

Defeating the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners must have given them great confidence ahead of their national title defense attempt. What do you think? Will the LSU Tigers match up? Let us know below!