When a critic tried to dismiss Ilona Maher’s athleticism by citing her “BMI of 30” back in 2024, she directly corrected the claim in a TikTok video. It was “29.3 to be exact.” Maher then punctuated her message with the line: “But alas, I’m going to the Olympics and you’re not.” The Olympic rugby player has consistently chosen to confront the remarks head-on, sometimes with humor and at other times with sharp candor. Now, with the Rugby World Cup underway, the scrutiny has only intensified, and Maher has chosen to respond unmistakably.

She has even pushed back against stereotypes about femininity in her sport, explaining her choice to wear lipstick on the field as part of reclaiming control. “I see girls putting on a full face before they go play, and it’s us taking back our narrative.” These responses have kept her in steady dialogue with an audience that often confuses criticism with commentary. Recently, however, her tone shifted.

The negativity had not subsided; if anything, it had increased. Maher decided not to ignore it. Instead, she released a video that directly addressed the recurring criticisms. In the post, she listed the familiar accusations. “She looks like a man,” “She’s not even good,” “She’s on steroids,” “Overhyped.” Then, she added her own pointed conclusion. “You keep living your sad worthless lives and I’ll keep playing great rugby and cashing checks because y’all can’t keep my name out your mouths.” It was not the polished humor of her earlier posts, but rather a deliberate, frustrated response to months of repetition.

The sharpness of her words reflects the broader environment surrounding her sport.

Rugby has been drawing record audiences in recent years, with more than 40,000 fans attending fixtures in the United States and Europe. Sponsors have taken notice as well, with Adidas naming Maher a “history-making athlete” in recognition of her role in the growth of women’s rugby. After all, she was the team center for the first-ever winning US rugby team in Paris 2024.

The increased visibility, however, has also exposed players to intensified scrutiny on public platforms. For Maher, this has meant balancing the rewards of professional recognition with the unrelenting chorus of anonymous judgment.

As the World Cup approaches its decisive stages, Maher’s stance offers more than a personal retort. It underscores the challenges faced by female athletes who do not conform to outdated expectations. By addressing the criticisms directly, she reframes the narrative around her career, presenting herself not as a passive target but as a competitor unwilling to be defined by others.

For her rivals, this means facing an athlete whose determination extends beyond the pitch. And for the audiences watching, it serves as a reminder that the conversation about women in sport is still being written, sometimes with words as sharp as the plays unfolding on the field. 

Ilona Maher inspires confidence even in her Rugby World Cup rivals

Ilona Maher entered the Women’s Rugby World Cup not merely as a player but as a presence that reshaped the environment around her. Although her USA side fell heavily to England (69-7), her influence extended beyond the scoreline.

Rivals who once regarded her as an opponent soon found themselves acknowledging the changes she had set in motion, both on and away from the field. Maher’s transition into the 15s game, coupled with her insistence on broadening rugby’s reach, meant that her effect was felt even in the camp of those she was tasked with challenging.

England’s Sarah Bern, one of the most experienced players in the tournament, was among those most directly affected.

Before their time together at Bristol Bears, Bern admitted to carrying unease about her appearance and doubting whether others wished to follow her journey. That altered once Maher arrived. Their connection was not limited to the pitch; it also flourished in public, with Bern participating in Maher’s characteristic social content and embracing a more visible role. Bern explained the shift plainly. 

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“Now I really love it and I just relish it and I actually think it’s really helped me to be less anxious and just be myself.” For an England prop who had long measured herself against the expectations of others, the change spoke volumes about Maher’s reach.

Maher, while preparing herself for the most demanding competition of her career, simultaneously equipped her competitors with renewed confidence. She balanced her own ambitions with an awareness that her profile could elevate those around her, even when they lined up in opposition. By the time she confronted her English friends on the World Cup stage, it was clear that her legacy was not confined to tries or tackles. It lay equally in the manner she enabled her rivals to approach the game with less apprehension and greater authenticity.