LSU Tigers do not produce athletes only; they give birth to stars. Olivia Dunne, Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, and Jaden Daniels exemplify that status. All these athletes have paved their way in the avenues of money and fame during their time in the Tigers’ nation. And while doing this, they have made their bond with each other strong. The expression of Johnson after hearing Dunne’s return to LSU for her fifth year says that all. 

Recently, in her podcast, Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae, the basketball player congratulated Olivia Dunne for accepting the fifth-year gate pass in the Tigers gymnastics. As per her, it is a memorable step. Furthermore, both players acknowledged that their school played a role in fostering their friendship. Now, the same fact applies to Angel Reese as well. The 22-year-old Chicago Sky forward has turned pro after last season spent with the LSU Tigers. Yet, the bond between her and Livvy remains the same. The proof of it came to the public a few days ago. 

Angel had lots of gems to collect in her rookie season in the WNBA. On September 1, she earned one such by breaking Sylvia Fowles’s record of the highest single-season rebounding. In her opening season in the coveted league, everything seems to be a cakewalk for her. Yet Reese had to stumble. After the game against the Los Angeles Sparks, she had to end her season abruptly because of a hairline fracture in her wrist. A tremendous blow! But Olivia Dunne is here to pacify Bayou Barbie. 

During her latest interaction with Fox News, Livvy said, “I think she’s [Angel Reese] been dominant, and I can’t wait to watch her career unfold even more.” Remember, Reese ended her last season for the Tigers, failing to win the national basketball championship. But Olivia Dunne had the chance to take the national gymnastics championship title home, representing the same color. Meanwhile, Reese’s fate chased her this season as well. 

When everything had been looking set for the Maryland native, A’ja Wilson came with a bolt. On September 17 this year, she surpassed Reese’s record for the highest number of rebounds in a single season, reaching ‌451 boards. Blow after blow! The former Tiger wasn’t anticipated to have such adventures in her first year in the WNBA. Yet, by nature’s law, she had to face those. But thanks to the bond made at LSU, Livvy holds nothing back while supporting her old mate. 

In the same interaction, the 22-year-old gymnast laid out, “I love the things she stands for and bringing eyes to women’s athletics.” That comes as a huge certificate from someone who is widely considered a social media ingenue. In fact, with 13.6 million followers, Dunne reigns on the NIL list of college athletes. And here she is, backing Angel Reese as the face of women’s athletics. But such praise hasn’t come out of the blue. Rather, both athletes have been maintaining an enviable relationship between them. 

Olivia Dunne and Angel Reese walk on the same line, supporting each other 

Things were different in 2023. During that year, both Olivia Dunne and Angel Reese were on a mission to settle their feat in the NIL world. In On3’s list, Dunne occupied the third place after Bronny James and Shedeur Sanders. Reese wasn’t far behind. She resided at the eighth rank. In the meantime, they were signing lucrative deals with brands and often posing in front of cameras as the models. On one such occasion, they crossed paths. They photographed together for the 2023 Sports Illustrated Money Issue, representing the NIL revolution in both the LSU Tigers and women’s athletics. A big achievement! 

Furthermore, both were featured in the Swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated the same year. They were doing this at a standard editorial pay rate. That seems to be thought-provoking. After all, they were successful athletes in the LSU Tigers. Then what made them take up such a job, paying a meager price? 

In her supporting statement, Angel said, “Everybody knows the WNBA doesn’t make that much money, so I just want to be able to grow my brand as much as I can in college before I go to the WNBA.” She looked concerned. On the other hand, Dunne’s coach supported his mentee’s off-court activities differently. 

In one episode of The Money Game, Jay Clark, the head coach of the LSU Tigers’ gymnastics wing, said, “For our sport, there’s no NBA, there’s no NFL.” As per him, that absence has made the gymnasts fall for the deals out of the sport. It applies to Olivia as well. So did the common survival strategy bring these two powerhouses closer? It could be. Nonetheless, Reese awarded Livvy with the tag “GEAUX QUEEN” after her game against North Carolina last season. This type of understanding between them has made them headlines time after time.