{{Short description|American rugby union player (born 1996)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox rugby biography | image = Ilona Maher 2022.jpg | alt = | caption = Maher in 2022 | full_name = Ilona Delsing Rosa Maher | birth_date = {{birth date and age|August 12, 1996}} | birth_place = Burlington, Vermont, U.S. | height = 5 ft 10 in<ref name="TodayBMI">{{cite news |last1=Holohan |first1=Meghan |title=Team USA's Ilona Maher roasts troll making fun of her weight: 'I'm going to the Olympics, you're not' |url=https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/ilona-maher-weight-bmi-rcna164081 |access-date=July 31, 2024 |work=TODAY.com |date=July 30, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> | weight = 198 lb | university = Quinnipiac University | ru_currentteam =USA Eagles | position = Center, Prop (7s) | years1 = 2025 | clubs1 = Bristol Bears | apps1 = 8 | points1 = 15 | repyears1 = 2025– | repteam1 = {{nwrut|United States}} | repcaps1 = 10 | reppoints1 = 0 | repsevensyears1 = 2018–2024 | repsevensteam1 = {{nwrut7|United States}} | clubupdate = January 12, 2025 | medals = {{Medal|Sport|Women's rugby sevens}} {{Medal|Country|{{United States}}}} {{Medal|Competition|Olympic Games}} center|80px {{Medal|Bronze|2024 Paris|Team competition}} }}
'''Ilona Delsing Rosa Maher''' ({{IPAc-en|ɪ|ˈ|l|oʊ|n|ə|_|ˈ|m|ɑːr}} {{respell|il|OH|nə|_|MAR}}; born August 12, 1996)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/ilona-maher_1950498 |title=MAHER Ilona |work=Paris 2024 Olympics |access-date=August 11, 2024}}</ref> is an American social media personality, podcast host, reality TV star, and former professional rugby union player. {{As of|April 2026}}, she is currently not playing rugby union and has not announced any plans to return to the game, but has remained active as an online personality.
In December 2024, she signed for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Women's Rugby league and began playing for them in January 2025.<ref name="Bristol Bears">{{cite web |title=Ilona Maher joins the PWR and signs for Bristol Bears |url=https://www.thepwr.com/news/global-star-ilona-maher-to-join-bears |publisher=Bristol Bears |access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref> She won bronze with the United States in rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2024 |title=Ilona Maher won a bronze medal, but that's not what earned her 4 million followers |url=https://fox5sandiego.com/2024-olympics/ilona-maher-won-a-bronze-medal-but-thats-not-what-earned-her-4-million-followers/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News |language=en-US}}</ref>
Maher took up rugby at age 17, and went on to win three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) championships as a college player at Quinnipiac University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=callback |url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/hdn/hrlm/p/callback.html |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=www.stamfordadvocate.com}}</ref> After debuting in 2018, she represented the United States national team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2024 |title=Ilona Maher: Ten things you should know about the USA international |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/players/who-is-ilona-maher-ten-things-you-should-know-about-the-usa-international-143218 |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=Rugby World |language=en-US}}</ref> and 2024 Paris Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2024 |title=USA star Maher joins Bristol on three-month deal |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/42740788/usa-star-ilona-maher-joins-britsol-bears-three-month-deal |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> She is also known for her body positivity advocacy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2024 |title=Watch Ilona Maher Send Inspiring Message About Body Positivity to Girls and Women |url=https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/watch-ilona-maher-send-inspiring-message-body-positivity-video |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated Swimsuit |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Maher was born on August 12, 1996, in Burlington, Vermont, to Michael and Mieneke Maher.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walrath-Holdridge |first=Mary |date=November 19, 2024 |title=Who is Ilona Maher? What to know about the ''DWTS'' contestant, Olympian and social media star |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/11/18/ilona-maher-dancing-with-the-stars-contestant/76409116007/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Steve |date=May 29, 2024 |title=Burlington-Born Rugby Player and Social Media Influencer Ilona Maher Is Headed Back to the Olympics |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/burlington-born-rugby-player-and-social-media-influencer-ilona-maher-is-headed-back-to-the-olympics-40999892 |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=Seven Days |language=en}}</ref> Her mother is a Dutch nurse. Her father, who has Irish ancestry, is a former rugby union player who previously played for Saint Michael's College.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaffstall |first=Katherine |date=September 16, 2024 |title=Ilona Maher Family: Meet the Olympian's Parents and Sisters |url=https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/ilona-maher-family-meet-the-olympians-parents-and-sisters/ |access-date=November 30, 2024 |website=Life & Style |language=en-US}}</ref> Maher has two sisters: older sister Olivia, who is Maher’s manager and a social media content creator known for coining the term "girl dinner" on TikTok; and younger sister Adrianna.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riva |first=Emma |date=June 17, 2024 |title=Who Says Girl Dinner is Just for Girls? |url=https://www.tablemagazine.com/girl-dinner/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |website=Table Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Caoimhe |date=2025-03-09 |title=Ilona Maher and the sisterhood fuelling a women’s sport trailblazer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6180792/2025/03/08/ilona-maher-rugby-olympics-family/ |access-date=2025-10-19 |work=The Athletic |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Maher and her sisters started playing "high-level" sports such as field hockey, basketball and Little League softball at a young age.<ref name=":0" /> During the spring of her senior year at Burlington High School, Maher grew tired with softball and was encouraged by her father to play rugby union.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frye |first=Andy |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Is Ilona Maher Rugby's Most Exciting Player? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyfrye/2023/06/07/is-ilona-maher-rugbys-most-exciting-player/ |access-date=November 30, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> She attended Norwich University for one year before transferring to Quinnipiac University, where she graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in nursing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ilona Maher |url=https://www.teamusa.org/usa-rugby/athletes/Ilona-Maher |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227014945/https://www.teamusa.org/usa-rugby/athletes/Ilona-Maher |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |publisher=Team USA |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> She later received a master's degree in business administration from DeVry University.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beckett |first=Tyson |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Ilona Maher is changing the face of rugby, and TikTok |url=https://www.ensemblemagazine.co.nz/articles/ilona-maher-rugby-tiktok-star |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=Ensemble Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Omatiga |first=Mary |date=July 14, 2023 |title=Hometown Hopefuls: Ilona Maher on the post-Olympic blues and body image |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/hometown-hopefuls-ilona-maher-on-the-post-olympic-blues-and-body-image |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Rugby union career ==
=== 2014–2018: High school and collegiate === Maher began playing rugby union for the South Burlington School Rugby Football Club at the age of 17 in the spring of her senior year. She had previously played field hockey, basketball, and softball at Burlington High School, and was encouraged to try rugby union by her father, who played for Saint Michael's College.<ref name="NYTMaher" />
Maher was recruited to play rugby union as a nursing student during her first and only year at Norwich University. She was then recruited to join the Quinnipiac Bobcats after Quinnipiac coach Becky Carlson observed her during a match between the two schools.<ref name=":0" /> After transferring to Quinnipiac, Maher played center and won three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) championships.<ref name="NYTMaher" /> She was named to the NIRA All-American team all three years and received the MA Sorensen Award, given to the nation's top collegiate women's rugby union player, in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gobobcats.com/sports/womens-rugby/roster/ilona--maher/7011|title=Ilona Maher|publisher=Quinnipiac Bobcats|access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=May 5, 2017 |title=Burlington's Maher named nation's top rugby player |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/2017/05/05/burlingtons-maher-named-nations-top-rugby-player/101348658/ |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=Burlington Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> She was nominated for the award again after her senior season in 2018 and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the NIRA Championships that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ydrovo |first=Jacqueline |date=June 18, 2024 |title=Rugby alumna named to U.S. Olympic team |url=https://www.qu.edu/quinnipiac-today/rugby-alumnus-chasing-gold-medal-dreams-2024-06-18/ |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=Quinnipiac Today |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2018–2024: National rugby sevens team & Olympics === While still at Quinnipiac, Maher also played 7s for Scion Rugby Academy, where she impressed coaches Richie Walker and Emilie Bydwell, who selected her for the national rugby sevens team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2018 |title=Maher Makes Most of Young 7s Career |url=https://therugbybreakdown.com/2018-07-20-maher-makes-most-of-young-7s-career/ |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=The Rugby Breakdown |language=en-US}}</ref> Maher made her debut with the USA Rugby World Cup Sevens team in 2018 at a Women's SVNS tournament in Paris.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Connell |first=Jordan |date=April 29, 2024 |title=Rugby sevens player Ilona Maher is vying for a medal in Paris |url=https://www.wate.com/2024-olympics/rugby-sevens-player-ilona-maher-is-vying-for-a-medal-in-paris/ |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=WATE 6 On Your Side |language=en-US |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727071005/https://www.wate.com/2024-olympics/rugby-sevens-player-ilona-maher-is-vying-for-a-medal-in-paris/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Maher was chosen to her first Olympic team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which was the sport's second appearance at the games. She scored three tries throughout the tournament as the United States finished in sixth place. While attending the Olympics, she posted several behind-the-scenes videos that went viral on TikTok.<ref name="NYTMaher">{{cite news |last1=Hassan |first1=Adeel |title=Ilona Maher is a breakout rugby star before even playing her first match. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/sports/olympics/ilona-maher-rugby-tik-tok.html |access-date=July 30, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=July 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/09/sports/olympics-new-england-medals|title=How athletes from New England fared in the Tokyo Olympics: A sport-by-sport breakdown|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref> She was selected again to represent the United States at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town, where she helped the national team reach the semifinals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2022/september/10/us-women-reach-rugby-world-cup-sevens-semifinals-after-gritty-win-over-canada|title=U.S. Women Reach Rugby World Cup Sevens Semifinals After Gritty Win Over Canada|date=September 10, 2022|publisher=United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee|access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref>
In 2023, she had a severe injury from a collision during a training session against a men's rugby union team. She dislocated her tibia and broke her fibula. Her mother, a nurse, immediately flew out to help her through the injury. Initially, Maher was expected to be out for the rest of the 2023 season, but was able to get back in the game in time to help Team USA win gold at the Pan American Games.<ref name="sports.yahoo.com">{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2024 |title=Who is Ilona Maher? She's a role model for female athletes and USA Rugby Sevens star |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/vermont-olympian-ilona-maher-role-080136491.html |access-date=November 30, 2024 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
Maher helped lead the United States to bronze at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the country's first Olympic medal in the sport. She scored tries in all three of their group stage matches. After being eliminated by gold medalists New Zealand in the semifinals, the United States narrowly defeated Australia in the bronze medal match.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/ilona-maher-us-womens-rugby-sevens-star-tiktok-sensation-paris-2024-olympics|title=Meet Ilona Maher: U.S. Women's Rugby sevens star, TikTok sensation and bronze medallist at Paris 2024 Olympics|date=July 30, 2024|first1=Michael|last1=Hincks|first2=Nischal|last2=Schwager-Patel|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/2024/07/30/ilona-maher-bronze-medal-for-us-womens-rugby-team-at-paris-olympics/74604357007/|title=Bronze for Maher! Vermont native, US women's rugby sevens win historic medal in Paris|last=Abrami|first=Adam|newspaper=The Burlington Free Press|access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-ilona-maher-rugby-body-positivity-dc092f017d5275235cd94f415d084d46|title=Paris Olympics sweetheart: Rugby player Ilona Maher promotes body positivity through social media|date=August 1, 2024|last=Fryer|first=Jenna|access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref>
=== 2024–present: Bristol Bears & National rugby XVs team === In December 2024, Maher signed for Bristol Bears in England’s Premiership Women's Rugby league on a three-month deal until the end of the season, marking her transition from rugby sevens to 15-player rugby union. Her contract officially began in January 2025.<ref name="Bristol Bears"/> In response to unprecedented demand for tickets to see her debut, the fixture was moved from Shaftesbury Park, the regular home for the Bristol Bears Women, to Ashton Gate to accommodate a larger capacity crowd.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Martyn |title=Ilona Maher factor prompts Bristol into fixture change |date=December 4, 2024 |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ilona-maher-factor-prompts-bristol-into-fixture-change/ |publisher=RugbyPass |access-date=December 4, 2024}}</ref>
Maher made her debut for Bristol in the Premiership off the bench in a 40–17 home loss to Gloucester-Hartpury in front of a club record crowd of 9,240.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hurcom |first1=Sophie |title=Gloucester-Hartpury overpower Bristol on Maher debut |date=January 5, 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c9vkzdx2yglo |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref> The following game she scored her first try for the club, a 41–31 away victory against Exeter Chiefs Women.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maher scores first Bristol try in win at Exeter |date=January 12, 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/ce8yv235211o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=January 12, 2025}}</ref>
In July 2025, Maher was selected for the U.S. women’s national rugby XVs team to compete in the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England the following month.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 18, 2025 |title=USA name squad for Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/en/news/1001923/usa-name-squad-for-womens-rugby-world-cup-2025 |access-date=July 18, 2025 |website=Rugby World Cup}}</ref><ref name="USA squad">{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Jenni |date=July 17, 2025 |title=USA Women's Eagles Squad ready to make their mark as the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 is revealed |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-womens-eagles-squad-ready-to-make-their-mark-as-the-womens-rugby-world-cup-2025-is-revealed-2025717 |access-date=July 18, 2025 |website=USA Rugby}}</ref> The Eagles did not advance beyond the pool stage, though Maher played in all three games of that round.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Regan |first=James |date=2025-09-06 |title=Women's Rugby World Cup: United States thrash Samoa but knocked out |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/46173260/women-rugby-world-cup-united-states-thrash-samoa-knocked-out |access-date=2025-10-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
==In the media== Maher has used her social media following to advocate body positivity and increased awareness of women's sports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hanawalt |first=Zara |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Olympian Ilona Maher Is Reminding People That No Body Is Perfect |url=https://www.shape.com/ilona-maher-body-image-6823637 |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=Shape |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Etienne |first=Vanessa |date=January 4, 2024 |title=Olympic Rugby Player Ilona Maher Is 'Rockin Her Cellulite' in Game Photo: 'It Is Completely Normal' |url=https://people.com/olympian-ilona-maher-rockin-her-cellulite-during-a-game-8422308 |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=People |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, she was announced as a brand ambassador for Secret deodorant, as well as a skincare brand that she co-founded, Medalist.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermont-rugby-ilona-maher-secret-deodorant/61543809|title=Vermont Olympian Ilona Maher featured in latest ad for Secret Deodorant|last=Cusanelli|first=Michael|date=July 9, 2024|publisher=WPTZ|access-date=November 21, 2024}}</ref> She is the most followed rugby union player on Instagram.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coetzee |first=Dylan |date=July 29, 2024 |title=USA's Ilona Maher surpasses Siya Kolisi as the most followed active rugby player on Instagram |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/usas-ilona-maher-surpasses-siya-kolisi-as-the-most-followed-active-rugby-player-on-instagram |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=Planet Rugby |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2024, she threw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game.<ref name="sports.yahoo.com"/> In August 2024, she posed for the cover of the swimsuit edition of ''Sports Illustrated''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Najib |first=Shafiq |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Rugby star Ilona Maher makes her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Style/rugby-star-ilona-maher-makes-sports-illustrated-swimsuit/story?id=113224914 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901061628/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Style/rugby-star-ilona-maher-makes-sports-illustrated-swimsuit/story?id=113224914 |archive-date=September 1, 2024 |access-date=September 2, 2024 |work=ABC News}}</ref> In December 2024, she made the Forbes 30 under 30 list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Birnbaum |first=Justin |title=30 Under 30 Sports 2025: These Athletes And Executives Are Breaking Barriers |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2024/12/03/30-under-30-2025-meet-the-athletes-and-executives-breaking-barriers-in-the-sports-world/ |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> In April 2025, it was announced that she'd return to ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit edition again.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 28, 2025 |title=Ilona Maher Is Back for SI Swimsuit 2025 |url=https://swimsuit.si.com/reveal/introducing-ilona-maher-si-swimsuit-2025 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> In July 2025, at the ESPY Awards, she was named the Best Breakthrough Athlete of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2025 |title=Maher Wins ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete |url=https://gobobcats.com/news/2025/7/16/womens-rugby-ilona-maher-wins-2025-espy-for-best-breakthrough-athlete.aspx |access-date=July 17, 2025 |website=Quinnipiac University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
===''Dancing with the Stars''===
In September 2024, Maher was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 33 of the reality television series ''Dancing with the Stars,'' partnered with Alan Bersten.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Meet the celebrity cast of 'Dancing with the Stars' season 33 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/dancing-with-the-stars-season-33-cast/story?id=113355662 |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> She is the first rugby player to compete on the show,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/entertainment/article/ilona-maher-rugby-dancing-with-the-stars-19773869.php |title=Olympian and Quinnipiac grad Ilona Maher became the first rugby player on 'Dancing with the Stars' Tuesday night |last=Iannella |first=Lilli |website=CT Insider |date=September 18, 2024 |access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref> and the first female partner in ''Dancing with the Stars'' history to lift her male partner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blackwelder |first=Carson |date=November 7, 2024 |title=Ilona Maher talks encouraging girls to embrace their 'powerful' self on ''Dancing with the Stars'' |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/ilona-maher-showing-girls-embrace-powerful-dwts-115606911 |access-date=November 28, 2024 |website=Good Morning America |language=en |quote=She's the first female partner to lift her male partner on the show, and it's just awesome.}}</ref> They reached the finale and finished as the runners-up on November 26, 2024, behind ''The Bachelor'' star Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/26/ilona-maher-womens-rugby-dancing-with-the-stars |title=Ilona Maher, US rugby Olympian, places second on Dancing with the Stars |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 26, 2024 |access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref> {| class="wikitable collapsible" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="Center" |Episode # ! rowspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="Center" |Dance / Song ! rowspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="Center" |Theme ! colspan="4" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="Center" |Judges' scores ! rowspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="Center" |Result |- | bgcolor="#CCCCCC" width="11%" align="center" |Inaba | bgcolor="#CCCCCC" width="11%" align="center" |Hough | bgcolor="#CCCCCC" width="11%" align="center" |'''Guest''' | bgcolor="#CCCCCC" width="11%" align="center" |Tonioli |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |1 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Cha-cha / "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Premiere | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |6 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |6 | bgcolor="silver" | | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |6 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |No elimination |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |2 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Salsa / "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Oscars | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7 | bgcolor="silver" | | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Safe |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |3 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Foxtrot / "Lady Marmalade" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Soul Train | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8<sup>1</sup> | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |No elimination |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |4 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Jive / "Come On, Feel the Noise" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Heavy Metal | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |6 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7<sup>2</sup> | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |6 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Safe |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |5 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Rumba / "My Way" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Dedication | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8<sup>3</sup> | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Safe |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |6 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Jazz / "Surface Pressure"<br/>Team Freestyle (Team Goofs) / "I 2 I" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Disney | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>9 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8<br/>9 | bgcolor="silver" | | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8<br/>9 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Safe |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |7 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Tango / "Psycho Killer" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Halloween Nightmares | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | bgcolor="silver" | | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Safe |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |8 | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Quickstep / "Chuck Berry"<br/>Instant Salsa / "Da' Dip" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | 500th Episode Celebration | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |10<br/>8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>8 | bgcolor="silver" | | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>8 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Safe |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/><small>Semi-finals</small> | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Paso doble / "Unholy"<br/>Viennese waltz / "Golden Hour" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Semi-finals | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>10 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |10<br/>9 | bgcolor="silver" | | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>10 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |No elimination |- | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |10<br/><small>Finals</small> | align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6" |Jive / "Shake a Tail Feather"<br/> Freestyle / "Femininomenon" | bgcolor="FAF6F6" | Finals | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>10 | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>10 | bgcolor="silver" | | bgcolor="FAF6F6" |9<br/>10 | bgcolor="#dedede" |Runners-up |}
<sup>1</sup> Score awarded by guest judge Rosie Perez<br> <sup>2</sup> Score awarded by guest judge Gene Simmons<br> <sup>3</sup> Score awarded by guest judge Mark Ballas
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{World Rugby Sevens Series player}} * [https://eagles.rugby/players/ilona-maher Ilona Maher] at USA Rugby ([https://web.archive.org/web/20250222035306/https://usa.rugby/players/ilona-maher archive February 22, 2025], [https://web.archive.org/web/20220707164952/https://www.usa.rugby/player/ilona-maher/ archive July 7, 2022]) * {{Team USA|new_id=ilona-maher-1118568|old_id=Ilona-Maher|sport=usa-rugby|archive=20230409190901}} * {{Olympics.com}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{Instagram}}
{{United States 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup squad}} {{USA Women's 2020 Summer Olympics Squad}} {{USA Women's 2024 Summer Olympics Squad}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Sports|Olympic Games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maher, Ilona}} Category:1996 births Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:American female rugby sevens players Category:American female rugby union players Category:American people of Dutch descent Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American podcasters Category:American TikTokers Category:Burlington High School (Vermont) alumni Category:DeVry University alumni Category:Living people Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Norwich Cadets athletes Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in rugby sevens Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in rugby sevens Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in rugby sevens Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Quinnipiac University alumni Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Sportspeople from Burlington, Vermont Category:United States women's international rugby union players