The NCAA’s new gymnastics rules became the talk of the day when Olivia Dunne, LSU gymnast and social media sensation, shared her take on it. But what exactly are these changes about? Judging in gymnastics had always been a bit tricky, and with perfect 10.0s happening more frequently until last year and “impossible” scores still slipping through, it was clear reform was needed. That’s where the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) stepped in.

In May 2024, they introduced the Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI), a system designed to bring more fairness by focusing not just on the gymnasts but also on evaluating the judges. As the NCAA season kicked off in January 2025, everyone was curious to see if these changes would make a difference. And sure enough, they did—but not in the way Olivia had expected. Well, in Week four of NCAA LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has raised concerns about gymnastics judging after the Tigers narrowly lost to Arkansas, 196.600-196.875, in their latest meet.

Olivia Dunne recently took to social media to address fans’ confusion about NCAA gymnastics scoring. She pointed out how discretionary deductions might hurt the sport’s entertainment value, suggesting that the current system confuses fans and detracts from their experience. “This is not about LSU; this is about the sport,” Dunne wrote, emphasizing her commitment to the growth of women’s sports in the NCAA. She believes that improving transparency in scoring could boost crowd engagement, increase viewership, and help elevate the profile of female athletes.

Dunne also voiced concern about the empty seats at gymnastics events, highlighting the need to make the sport more appealing to fans. She compared too many deductions to constant penalties interrupting a basketball or football game, which can take away from the excitement. “At some point, it feels negative and loses the entertainment factor,” she said, suggesting that a more straightforward and less interruption-heavy system would keep fans coming back. She made it clear that for gymnastics to grow in viewership, the sport must focus on what draws crowds and excites fans to watch. On

Despite her concerns, Olivia Dunne’s comments have sparked criticism. One fan even called her out, saying, “Livvy. Girl. This is some nonsense,” while another remarked, “No one was ever watching you because they enjoy gymnastics….”Some fans feel like her stance is disingenuous, given that she’s planning to leave gymnastics after her time at LSU, stating she won’t pursue the Olympics due to injury concerns. Even called her, “two-faced“.

These critics question why she’s advocating for the sport’s future when she’s stepping away, it might just be for attention. On the other hand, some professionals in the field defend the integrity of the judging system, arguing that gymnastics without deductions wouldn’t truly be gymnastics. But this conversation raises bigger questions about the state of NCAA gymnastics itself!

Why does this new gymnastics rule matter?

Let’s start with why this new gymnastics rule was important. Well, back in 2023, famous gymnasts like Jade Carey earned two perfect 10s in a meet against Arizona, but one of them, her floor routine was pretty controversial. She underrotated a tumbling pass and even took a step forward, which should’ve resulted in a deduction.

Yet, she still got a perfect score. This situation isn’t a one-off, either. Another example came when Chloi Clark from the University of Florida performed a vault that had a clear deduction—she took a large hop back on landing. Despite this, one judge still gave her a nearly perfect score. But these are just minor problems.

The main reasons are:

• NCAA women’s gymnastics struggles with attendance because it’s a bit of a niche sport, with less media attention and a lot of competition from bigger sports like basketball and football. Plus, the sport’s technical nature doesn’t make it as easy for casual fans to get into. Add in high ticket prices (sometimes between $46.25 and $121.25), and it’s tough to bring in crowds. Weekday meets and limited marketing also plays a part.
• Another issue is limited streaming. NCAA gymnastics gets less funding and media attention compared to bigger sports, so there aren’t as many resources for quality broadcasts. Meets are often held in smaller venues that lack the infrastructure for professional streaming, and broadcasting contracts tend to prioritize more profitable sports, leaving gymnastics with fewer opportunities on major networks.
• The lack of strong commentary in NCAA women’s gymnastics can make the sport less appealing and accessible. Good commentary is key for helping casual fans understand the complexities of the sport, like scoring and skill difficulty.
• Unfortunately, many broadcasts fall short, with commentators who may not have a deep understanding of gymnastics, struggle to engage viewers, or fail to provide enough context during routines. A recent example of this was on January 26, 2024, during the Kentucky vs. Georgia meets. While Kentucky’s Jillian Procasky performed on the uneven bars, Samantha Nicole Peszek mistakenly said, “One of those athletes who holds themselves to a high standard, and not in a good way.” This drew attention, as it seemed to negatively comment on Procasky’s standards.
• Uneven competition is a big issue in NCAA women’s gymnastics. Teams like Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, and Utah dominate the sport, making it tough for smaller, less-funded programs to keep up. This can make competitions feel predictable and less exciting. Smaller teams often struggle to bring in top recruits or secure the funding they need, which just keeps widening the gap between the powerhouse programs and everyone else.
• Scheduling is another challenge for NCAA gymnastics, as meets are often held on weekdays, making it hard for fans to attend in person. On top of that, the season is pretty short—running from January to April—which limits the chances for exposure and fan engagement.

While Olivia Dunne raises valid points about scoring and transparency in NCAA gymnastics, but there are bigger issues at play. From improving commentary and streaming to tackling attendance and competition imbalances, more needs to be done. While recent rule changes are a start, ongoing efforts are essential to making the sport more engaging and accessible.