Who is Ilona Maher? Meet the U.S. women’s rugby star

Ilona Maher has become a standout figure in U.S. women’s rugby with her electrifying performances on the field and engaging presence off it.

Here’s a closer look at the dynamic athlete making waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 Early Life

Born on August 12, 1996, in Burlington, Vermont, Ilona Maher grew up in a sports-oriented family.

Her mother, Mieneke, is a nurse, and Maher is the middle daughter of three, with sisters Olivia and Adrianna.

Encouraged to play sports from a young age, Maher initially participated in Little League softball before discovering rugby.

Rugby Career

Maher’s rugby journey began at the South Burlington School Rugby Football Club when she was 17. She had previously played field hockey, basketball, and soccer at Burlington High School, inspired to try rugby by her father, who played for Saint Michael’s College.

After one year at Norwich University, Maher transferred to Quinnipiac University, where she made a significant impact.

At Quinnipiac, she played center, won three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) championships, and was named to the NIRA All-American team three times.

In 2017, she received the prestigious MA Sorensen Award for the nation’s top collegiate women’s rugby player and was named Most Outstanding Player at the NIRA Championships in 2018.

Maher’s talent caught the eye of the U.S. national team coaches while she was also playing 7s for Scion Rugby Academy. She debuted for the USA Rugby World Cup Sevens team in 2018 at a Women’s SVNS tournament in Paris.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Maher not only competed but also captured public attention with viral TikTok videos.

She continued to represent the U.S. at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town. As of 2024, Maher is competing in the Paris Olympics, once again showcasing her skills on the global stage.

 Personal Life

Maher graduated from Burlington High School and went on to earn a degree in nursing from Quinnipiac University in 2018. She later obtained a master’s degree in business administration from DeVry University in 2022.

In addition to her rugby career, Maher is an advocate for body positivity and women’s sports awareness. She delivered a TEDxTalk in 2022 and leveraged her viral TikTok fame for social causes.

In 2024, she was announced as a brand ambassador for Secret deodorant and co-founded a skincare brand, Medalist.