Ilona Maher

Known for her powerful performances on the field and engaging online presence off it, the USA Sevens star has become a TikTok sensation and the most followed rugby player on the planet.

But who is Ilona Maher? She is an American dynamic force both on and off the field and has become the face of Women’s rugby in the United States, capturing the hearts of a new generation of fans across the globe. 

Born on 12 August 1996 in Burlington, Vermont, she only discovered rugby at the age of 17, cheered on by her supportive father, who himself played at Saint Michael’s College. 

She went on to lead her Quinnipiac University team to three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association championships and was awarded the MA Sorensen Award for National Player of the Year in 2017.

A year later, she joined the USA Rugby Sevens team and two years after that, she represented her country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing sixth but using the platform to propel her online following. 

Exploding in popularity at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Maher’s humorous and entertaining videos have made her a social media superstar, posting various behind-the-scenes videos from the Olympic Village, including interactions with the likes of former NFL star Jason Kelce.

With over 2 million followers on each of her TikTok and Instagram accounts, San Diego based Maher is using her following to advocate for body positivity and address sexism in sports, resonating with her male and female followers of all shapes and sizes. 

She has secured brand deals with Secret and L’Oréal and co-launched a skincare line called Medalist. With degrees in nursing and business, Maher has been quick to realise that her social media following can help her maintain a career in rugby.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the USA team finished third with a historic bronze medal, while she ended the tournament as the most followed rugby player in the world, surpassing the Springboks’ double Rugby World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi and Gold medal winner of the men’s tournament, France’s Antoine Dupont. 

With the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming up in 2025, fans will be hoping to see Maher in action again, this time for the USA Women’s fifteens team. 

It’s clear that with whatever she sets her mind to, Maher will continue to have an impact both on and off the field.