Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher is a 28-year-old American rugby star who was born in Burlington, Vermont, and she got into sports at a very young age. While she initially started playing field hockey and basketball, she later picked up rugby after her father's advice. Before being recruited by Quinnipiac University to play for the Bobcats, Maher played for Norwich University for only one season. In her final year with the Bobcats in 2018, she was named the Most Outstanding Player. As her career progressed, Maher went on to represent the USA two times in the Olympics and won a bronze medal in 2024. Here, Mirror Sport look into her net worth, personal life, and more. Ilona Maher's net worth and Dancing with the Stars Though Maher started playing rugby seriously only at 17, she has made great strides in the sport. Most recently, she signed a lucrative three-month deal with Premiership Women’s Rugby outfit Bristol Bears in 2024. Apart from this, she also makes her money from endorsements. She is the brand ambassador for Secret deodorant and also a skincare brand called Medalist. Maher was also a part of season 33 of the reality television series Dancing with the Stars in 2024. She gained immense popularity during the show and was the first rugby player to compete on the show. Partnering Alan Bersten, she finished as runner-up. She is also the most followed female rugby player on Instagram. As per reports, the American rugby union player has an estimated net worth of £1.6 million. Ilona Maher's personal life Despite being one of the most famous and most followed rugby players on social media, Maher is rather private and keeps her personal life away from the public eye. As a result, there is not a lot of information about her available. Back in 2020, Maher was quite active on social media during the Olympics. She regularly posted about her efforts to find love in the Olympic Village and made amusing TikTok videos about it. As of 2025, she is reportedly single. It is unclear if the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist is in a relationship with someone or not. Facing constant sexist attacks As a star of the USA women’s rugby team, Maher has faced her share of sexist comments and stereotypes. Her strong, athletic build, which has been an asset in her sport, has unfortunately led to baseless and vile accusations about her gender and sexuality. In a video posted on her social media back in 2024, Maher spoke about how such comments can hamper the dreams of young girls. However, despite the constant negative comments, Maher has fought through and continues to rise in the sport. In the process, she has emerged as an inspiration to young girls who want to become athletes.