The Women's Rugby World Cup starts this evening, with hosts England welcoming the USA to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland for the tournament opener. More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for the competition curtain-raiser on what is set to be a huge night for the sport on the global stage. The Red Roses, the favourites to lift the trophy when the tournament comes to a conclusion next month, are jam-packed with star talent and arguably have the most complete squad at this moment in time. They are overwhelming favourites tonight. But they will be facing the world's most popular rugby player this evening in the form of the USA's Ilona Maher. Maher is the most-followed rugby player in the world and almost transcends the sport. The former Bristol Bears star has more than 1.6million followers on TikTok and boasts nearly nine million when you add in her Instagram and X channels. Previously a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in the US, Maher is well-known away from the rugby field too. That has brought with it other lucrative opportunities - including an offer to go into professional wrestling. "I've been approached before by the WWE," she told BBC Sport . "I don't know if I would [go into wrestling]. I should think about it, there is great money in it." Her ultimate goal, though, would be to use the sport as a means to get into acting and Hollywood. "I would love to get into the acting space and the scripted space. I think a Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson, John Cena progression - I would love to do that," she added. "It would be exciting to see my body type on the screen. I'll start off small - probably like a hot assassin or something, let's not get too crazy! "I'm not going to be in a rom-com just yet. "We'll see. The world is open, but I do see myself coming back to rugby." The outside centre, who was born in Burlington, Vermont, has appeared at the Olympics for her country and won a bronze medal in 2024. Thanks to her appearances on reality TV and various endorsement deals, her net worth is set around £1.6million. In terms of her personal life, she keeps her off-field affairs private. As of 2025, she is reportedly single, according to the Mirror. It is unclear if the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist is in a relationship with someone or not. Speaking to People magazine last year , she told the publication she's looking for someone who can keep up with her sense of humour. “I recently was told by a man, ‘You flirt by making fun.’ I hear that, but I think it's also just like I flirt and then you come back with something, and it's like a back-and-forth that I really like, that sort of banter, I guess." She added: “I've never really had somebody who's come to my rugby games. Somebody who’s really proud to see me shine and wants me to keep growing — someone who shows me off." Despite her fame, Maher is keen to stress she is a rugby player first and foremost. "So many times people forget, but I am a rugby player first," Maher added to the BBC . "I do the social media because I have to because it is not sustainable to be a women's rugby player - I am not going to make money doing it. "It does irk me at times when people forget that. One comment once was: 'Are you going to watch the Instagrammer play?' "I was like, 'no, I have won a bronze medal, I've been to two Olympics, I am a good rugby player who loves the sport'. "I am proud to do both but I do want to be known as a rugby player."