The Viral Romance: 5 Shocking Details About Walker Lyons And Rylee Arnold’s ‘Fairytale’ Relationship In 2025

The relationship between Dancing with the Stars pro Rylee Arnold and USC Trojans football star Walker Lyons has captivated fans across both the dance floor and the gridiron, becoming one of the most talked-about young couples of the year. Their romance, which officially "hard-launched" in late 2024, has been marked by a truly unique meet-cute, long-distance dedication, and the challenge of balancing two high-profile, demanding careers.

As of December 12, 2025, the couple remains strong, navigating Rylee’s third season as a professional dancer and Walker's sophomore year competing for playing time as a tight end at the University of Southern California (USC). This article dives deep into the most recent updates and previously unknown details about the pair, from their unique first encounter to how Walker earned the all-important "Sage's Approval" from the famous Arnold family.

Rylee Arnold and Walker Lyons: Complete Biographical Profile

To truly understand the dynamic of this power couple, it helps to know their individual paths that led them to meet:

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Rylee Arnold (Professional Dancer)

• Full Name: Rylee Arnold
• Born: June 5, 2005
• Age (as of late 2025): 20
• Hometown: Provo, Utah
• Family: The youngest of the four famous Arnold Sisters, which includes fellow DWTS pro Lindsay Arnold, Jensen Arnold, and Brynley Arnold.
• Career Highlights: She is a professional Latin and ballroom dancer. Rylee gained initial recognition on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors before joining the main cast of DWTS as a professional in 2023. She holds the distinction of being the first professional dancer on the show born after its premiere date.

Walker Lyons (College Football Player)

• Full Name: Walker Lyons
• Born: March 13, 2004
• Age (as of late 2025): 21
• Hometown: Folsom, California
• Position: Tight End (TE) for the USC Trojans (Jersey No. 85).
• Career Highlights: A highly-touted four-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class. He is competing for a starting role as a sophomore in the 2025 season. He scored his first career touchdown late in the 2025 season, a major milestone in his college career. [cite: 2, 5, 7, 10 (from step 1), 13 (from step 1)]

The Viral 'Meet-Cute' Story That Launched Their Romance

The story of how Rylee Arnold and Walker Lyons first connected is far from typical, proving that sometimes, fate truly intervenes. It all began with a casual Uber ride, making their relationship launch one of the most unique in recent celebrity history.

The Uber Connection: Rylee first became aware of her future boyfriend through an Uber driver—who turned out to be Walker's aunt. The dancer was on a trip to New York and ended up in a conversation with the driver, who, upon realizing Rylee’s connection to the dancing world, immediately mentioned her nephew, Walker, a college football player. She even suggested Rylee follow him on social media.

The First DM: Rylee described the first message she received from Walker as simple but effective. He reached out to her after she followed him, and the rest is history. They went on their first date shortly after Rylee had returned from her trip, right around the time she was dealing with a sprained ankle during DWTS rehearsals.

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The Hard Launch: After months of keeping their budding romance private, Rylee officially "hard-launched" the relationship on Instagram on October 27, 2024. The post featured a carousel of photos from one of Walker's USC football games, confirming the speculation that had been swirling among fans. [cite: 16 (from step 2), 18 (from step 2)]

How They Navigate the DWTS and USC Football Life in 2025

Both Rylee and Walker maintain incredibly demanding schedules. Rylee’s life is consumed by rehearsals, live shows, and the DWTS Live tour, while Walker’s revolves around college football practice, games, and academics at USC. Their ability to make the relationship work amidst this chaos speaks volumes about their commitment to each other.

Supporting Each Other’s Worlds: Despite the distance between Rylee’s primary base in Utah/LA and Walker’s schedule in Folsom/USC, they make a point of showing up for each other. Walker has been a visible presence in the Dancing with the Stars ballroom, attending multiple shows. He was notably there to support Rylee during the grand finale of her season, a major moment in her professional career.

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Touring and Injuries: Their relationship proved its resilience during Rylee's time on the Dancing with the Stars Live tour in early 2025. When Rylee had to take a temporary break from the tour in March due to a sprained ankle, she used the unexpected downtime to spend quality time with Walker. This moment, born out of an injury, became a testament to their dedication to each other outside of their busy careers.

The 'Taking Everything Like a Champ' Quote: Rylee has openly gushed about how Walker handles the sudden media attention that comes with dating a DWTS pro. She told reporters that Walker is "taking everything like a champ," which is a huge compliment considering the intense scrutiny the Arnold family and their partners face.

The All-Important Arnold Family Approval

For any partner of an Arnold sister, gaining the approval of the tight-knit, famous dancing family is crucial. Rylee's older sister, Lindsay Arnold, is a DWTS legend, and her opinion—and the opinion of her children—carries significant weight.

Walker Lyons quickly won over the most important member of the Arnold clan: Lindsay Arnold’s daughter, Sage. It was reported that Walker received "Sage's Approval," which is a fun, unofficial seal of acceptance from the family. This lighthearted detail confirms that Walker has integrated well into the family dynamic, a positive sign for the future of the relationship.

The entire Arnold family, including Lindsay, was supportive of Rylee’s decision to go public with Walker. The family’s positive reaction has undoubtedly made it easier for Rylee to balance her professional and personal life, allowing the couple to focus on their future together in 2025 and beyond.