There’s a fine line between chasing the bag and losing yourself in it. Some athletes cross it without looking back—money talks, and suddenly, they’re unrecognizable. But every now and then, someone flips the script, proving you can play the NIL game without letting it play you. This ain’t just about deals and dollars; it’s about leading the next wave without losing yourself in the tide. Folks just take notice of LSU’s very own Olivia Dunne! She ain’t just making NIL history—she’s rewriting the rules and breaking the whole darn NIL barriers. And now? One of the U.S. Olympic stars is putting big respect on her name. Jordan Chiles just made it loud and clear—Livvy’s doing it right, big time.

The US gymnast and Olympic medalist, Jordan Chiles, isn’t just handing out compliments—she’s giving Livvy Dunne her flowers for real. The LSU superstar has been cashing in on NIL deals like it’s her side hustle, but Chiles made it clear: Dunne ain’t lost in the sauce of NIL greed. “There are some athletes who take NIL to this extent where they forget who they are and it’s their whole identity, but Livvy has done it right and not changed into someone else,” Jordan Chiles told ESPN today. Translation? She’s stacking checks without switching up on her and her teammates.

Dunne isn’t just making bank—she’s making moves. While some athletes treat NIL like a solo sport, Livvy plays team ball. She lifts up her squad, keeps it real, and still finds time to drop insane routines on the mat. Jordan Chiles doubled down and gave props to the NIL era’s original Big 3: “She is who she is and she helps her teammates and does all these cool things with it. I think Angel [Reese] and [current LSU basketball standout] Flau’Jae [Johnson] and Livvy are amazing and have been able to change the perception of what it means to have a name, image, and likeness and lead the way.” It’s bigger than personal gain! They’re out here flipping the old-school NIL mindset on its head, proving that athletes can secure the bag without selling out.

Ever since the NCAA’s NIL rules went into effect in 2021, Dunne has been on another level. With over 13 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, she’s literally the face of college sports marketing. And those numbers aren’t just for show—according to On3, her NIL valuation sits at a whopping $4.1 million, comfortably ahead of hoopers Flau’Jae Johnson and Paige Bueckers, who sit at $1.5 million each.

Look, it wasn’t all smooth sailing and rainbows for LSU’s No.1 star. Livvy had to hustle through the NIL chaos before becoming the blueprint for the next-gen of athletes: “There definitely were some learning curves, and it took a long time to learn how to balance it all,” Dunne admitted. “Especially between my sophomore and junior year, that was a super hard time because I just didn’t know what to do, and there were nobody’s footsteps to follow in. So I kind of had to learn on my own how to navigate all this.” Talk about making one’s own path.

But NIL isn’t her sole goal! Off late, she has been making her stance very clear!

Olivia Dunne claps back at NCAA’s $2.8 billion House Settlement

LSU’s Livvy Dunne isn’t just shaking up NIL—she’s standing up to the NCAA itself. The gymnast and social media icon formally objected to the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement, citing transparency issues and unfair NIL compensation for athletes.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, Dunne didn’t hold back. She called out the proposed settlement for lacking transparency, failing to fairly compensate athletes, and completely cutting players out of the decision-making process. When one of the most marketable college athletes in history speaks? People listen. And boy, Dunne’s got a lot to say. Dunne’s rise has been nothing short of a generational run. Since 2021, she’s proved that non-revenue sports athletes can thrive in NIL. Her 13.7 million social media followers and $4.2 million NIL valuation are receipts. But here’s the kicker—she believes the settlement doesn’t do enough for players like her, the ones who built their brands from scratch without football or basketball’s built-in clout.

At the heart of Dunne’s objections? The NCAA’s payout formula. She argues it lowballs athletes who could’ve made millions if NIL had been around sooner. Plus, she slammed and called out the lack of transparency. And pointing out how athletes weren’t given accurate data before making high-stakes decisions. “Especially in a case where the school provided no NIL data, athletes could not upload their own data to adjust and correct their estimate without filing a claim and waiving their right to opt out of the damages class. This left the athlete to have to make a decision without accurate information,” Dunne preached.

With final approval set for April 7, the $2.8 billion settlement promises big changes. Allowing schools to allocate up to $20.5 million annually in NIL payments starting in 2025. But with major athletes like Dunne raising red flags, this deal might not be as airtight as the NCAA hoped. Livvy Dunne isn’t just playing the game—she’s changing the rules. And whether it’s NIL dominance or calling out the NCAA, one thing’s for sure: she’s always one step ahead.