It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Not for LSU, and definitely not for the sea of purple-and-gold fans who believed this was their year. But heartbreak came swiftly on Thursday night, as LSU finished third in the NCAA championship semifinals, falling just short of the top two needed to advance. Their score of 197.5250, while solid, couldn’t edge out UCLA and Utah, who clinched the coveted final spots. What stings even more is how close the margins were.

The disappointment was loud, but not louder than the emotional comment left by Julz Dunne. For LSU fans, it echoed what they were already feeling. Olivia, one of the program’s biggest stars and a key contributor in past seasons, had been sidelined due to a fracture in her kneecap. And now, with the season brought to an abrupt end, the sense of unfinished business lingers—only made worse by growing frustration over the NCAA judges. With scoring decisions sparking confusion and outrage across social media, fans are calling for answers.

Julz Dunne added in her Instagram story, “It’s been a pleasure. Forever cheering you on,” alongside a heartfelt photo of her and Olivia watching from the stands. The image said it all. Two sisters, side by side, emotionally tethered to a team that came up just short. For Julz, this wasn’t just a sibling moment, it was the closing chapter of something she had lived through vicariously, as Olivia fought through the highs and heartbreaks of NCAA gymnastics. And while fans felt the loss deeply, the Dunnes felt it personally.

After being mocked last year as merely a “cheerleader” due to her limited participation, Olivia returned with a purpose. But fate had other plans. An avulsion fracture in her kneecap ended her competition hopes early. LSU head coach Jay Clark himself admitted how bizarre and painful the injury was, noting, “That generally happens to people who have been in car accidents or some sort of blunt force trauma.” Dunne couldn’t recall any such incident. All she could do was support her team from the sidelines, again. But this time, nobody questioned her presence. Instead, they felt her absence.

Olivia’s LSU Tigers left it all on the floor in Fort Worth. Kailin Chio’s electrifying 9.975 on vault earned her the individual national title, while KJ Johnson added firepower with a strong 9.8375. But for fans hoping for a Cinderella run, it wasn’t enough.

Fans call out underscoring and missed moments in emotional LSU exit

The LSU community wasn’t just stunned. It was vocal. After the Tigers fell short in the NCAA semifinals, fans flooded social media with reactions that were equal parts confusion and frustration. “Not sure why we averaged a 9.8 the entire meet…” one fan wrote, echoing the sentiment of many who watched a team full of talent and grit struggle to match their usual standard. With Olivia Dunne sidelined, the spark LSU relied on felt dimmed. Dunne’s absence was more than physical. It left an emotional gap at a crucial moment.

Another fan didn’t hold back, adding, “The underscoring is ridiculous! You all should have been in! Still incredibly proud of all the hard work the ladies put in.” That pride is well-earned. Even without Dunne, LSU put up a 197.5250. A score that would’ve likely secured advancement in another session. But the margins in NCAA gymnastics are unforgiving. For Dunne, the heartbreak was twofold. She’d already missed her Senior Night in the PMAC and was desperately trying to return. From AlterG treadmill runs to teasing a bar’s comeback, she was clawing her way back. But her injury proved too unpredictable, ending her hopes for one last performance.

What made this year so different, so raw, was the resolve Olivia Dunne brought into the season. Fans took to social media to vent and process the shock. One fan wrote, “They had an incredible season. And when you’re so consistent, you are bound to have those off days. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s normal.” But perhaps the most stinging take came from someone doing the math aloud: “LSU 197.525. Missouri 197.300. Missouri IN finals, LSU OUT of finals. Make it make sense. 🤔” For a team that had shown such dominance all year, despite adversity and despite injuries, it felt like a cruel ending.

Frustration turned to confusion for many. “SOOO many over rotations, very underwhelming! I’m so confused on how they didn’t perform as well as usual,” read another post. It wasn’t just a drop in scoring. It was a deviation from the clean, sharp gymnastics fans had come to expect from the Tigers. The timing couldn’t have been worse, especially for Dunne, who had spent weeks battling back from injury. Her recovery may still be ongoing, but the fanbase is already feeling the void she’s left and questioning what could’ve been if fate had played fair.