Jordan Chiles is living up to that Jordan in her name. Yes, believe it or not, she repeated what Michael did years ago. Just like the 1997 NBA finals, where Michael Jordan fought through the flu, Chiles also did just that. On February 2nd, even though she was still recovering from a nasty flu bug that had her fever spiking to 104 degrees earlier in the week, Jordan went ahead and scored her second perfect 10 of the season at the NCAA Week 5 meet. And just for the fun of it, she helped UCLA pull off a huge upset over No. 5 Michigan State.

But despite all these accolades, there is still a lingering sadness. Well, the meet at Pauley Pavilion was something special, and the crowd was electric! The UCLA fans were out there, hoping and pleading for that perfect 10, and Jordan Chiles delivered! She gave them something to cheer about, no doubt. But while Chiles made the fans and UCLA proud with her performance, her wish wasn’t fully granted.

Yes! Her wish! Remember back on January 21st, almost two weeks before the meet, Chiles made an emotional plea to fans, saying, “Hello everyone, this is a PSA—please come and attend our home meet this Saturday the 25th at Pauley at 2 pm. @uclagymnastics would love all the support and want to give you guys an amazing show!! So come!!!”

Chiles was really hoping for fans to show up and pack the stands. And they did show up, just not in the way she’d imagined. While the crowd wasn’t as packed and roaring as she might have wanted, it was still one of the best-attended and highest-viewed meets. Now, Pauley Pavilion in Westwood, Los Angeles, has a seating capacity of 13,800. But for this event, only 10,681 seats were filled. But even with some empty seats, UCLA still came out looking strong. Not too shabby compared to previous meets. And Chiles is at the forefront.

Two weeks ago, in NCAA Meet 4, Jordan Chiles led UCLA to a 197.550-194.850 win over Maryland at the XFINITY Center. She kicked things off with a perfect 10 on uneven bars. But despite having Chiles in the mix, the crowd was a little… meh. They hit a record 7,287 attendees but considering the arena can fit almost 18,000, it was a bit underwhelming. This brings us to a statement Olivia Dunne made some time ago.

Olivia Dunne calls for changes in NCAA gymnastics scoring and viewership

Just a week after the Tigers’ narrow loss to Arkansas, LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne raised concerns about NCAA gymnastics attendance and viewership. After the meeting, she expressed her thoughts, saying, “I care deeply about the growth of women’s sports, especially in the NCAA. If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to look at what makes the crowds go crazy.”

Dunne pointed to the importance of rewarding impressive routines. She states, “People understand what a perfect 10 is and want people who do things that look great to be rewarded.” Dunne compared gymnastics scoring to sports with frequent interruptions, saying, “Too many deductions taken at a judge’s discretion feels the same as watching a basketball game constantly interrupted with penalties or a football game with flags on every play.” Dunne’s comments highlight her concern for the sport’s visibility and the impact it has on athletes.

“The number of questions I am currently getting from fans about the scoring is significant enough for me to share this concern,” Dunne said. “I love the art and intricacy of gymnastics. But let’s get more eyes on the sport!” While this is not specifically about LSU, Dunne emphasized, “I have an audience of casual fans. So maybe I’m in a unique position to see what is happening with fans differently than people just looking at attendance numbers.”

She also noted how changes impacting the entertainment value of gymnastics could benefit athletes financially. She stresses that “female sports in the NCAA have to focus on building crowd engagement to continue to get revenue support for the athletes.” Despite Dunne’s concerns, Jordan Chiles’ recent performance at UCLA is seeing a surge in fan engagement. This suggests that high-level performances like hers could be the key to boosting attendance and viewership. Anyway, fast forward to the latest meet: how did she do overall?

Jordan Chiles saved the day!

Jordan Chiles owned the floor at Pauley Pavilion during UCLA’s showdown with Michigan State. The energy was electric, even though there were a few bumps earlier in the meet. Some struggle on the beam and fall on bars, but Chiles wasn’t letting any of that stop her. When it came down to the final rotation, trailing Michigan State by seven-tenths, she pulled out a perfect 10 on the floor. It was exactly the kind of performance you expect from a seasoned Olympian!

This helped UCLA achieve a season-high 49.800 on the floor, ultimately leading them to a 197.300 to 197.200 win. While Chiles was the standout performer, her teammates also played crucial roles throughout the meet. Riley Jenkins made an impressive debut on vault, scoring a 9.850 with her Yurchenko 1.5. This helped the Bruins post a season-high 49.350 on the event. Brooklyn Moors also contributed to the team’s energy.

UCLA’s victory marked their fourth consecutive 197+ score and their second Big Ten win. The team showed their depth, with Chiles anchoring the final rotation and delivering when it mattered most. Even with some early setbacks, the Bruins’ ability to come together and finish strong showcased their growth as a team. With the next challenge against Washington ahead, UCLA left the meet with a hard-earned win and a sense of unity that will carry them forward.