Learning From Caitlin Clark’s Journey, Ilona Maher Confesses Pressure of Being Face of Women’s Sports

From the Olympics to dancing and now back to rugby–that’s the energy Ilona Maher has got. Only three days ago, she entered the ground for her first match in the Bristol Bears jersey in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) and the match did not go as planned. Bristol Bears lost 40-17 to PWR champions Gloucester-Hartpury at Ashton Gate.

The 28-year-old, on a three-month contract, moved from the bench to play a good 20 minutes, but her efforts on the wings did not help turn the tide. Still, Ilona has been quite vocal about women’s sports, and now, she is using WNBA legend Caitlin Clark to drive her argument home. Ilona opened up about the weight of being in the spotlight admitting the pressure of representing women’s sports isn’t always easy, but she’s still determined to give it her all.

After the game, Ilona Maher sat down for a post-match chat, and one reporter said to her that she has been speaking a lot about making an impact and that rugby needs those big stars who can come through internationally. And if she ever feels any pressure or responsibility to take on that role. With the same humility as before, Ilona took her time to answer. She said, “I think I don’t ever feel it, but I could see where it could come from. And I guess I do, in a way, because right now, it seems to be, ‘Oh, it’s just a one person thing,’ like, ‘Oh, we’ve got to get her, and this, and this, and that.’” But that’s not how Ilona looks at it–she is all about raising people.

Ilona Maher described how she has always been about getting her USA Sevens teammates more exposure, to help them build their brands, even during the Olympics. She has witnessed athletes engaging with their fans as people engage with Caitlin Clark’s games because of her. It’s the same with rugby. Ilona continued,

“I’ve seen the power of people connecting with the individual and then going to a sport. You know, people connect with Caitlin Clark and go see a game, and that brings more fans in.” She is convinced that the sport can expand through creating a community of stars, not a single one.

If fans can relate to other great players like Holly Aitchison, Jasmine Joyce, or Evie Gallagher, it will attract more people into the game as per Maher. Ilona concluded it with a strong statement and said,

“ I love being a superstar people call me the Superstar of rugby but that’s not enough for the sport. We can’t just have one superstar—we need more, we need people connecting with so many different players.” And for Ilona, that’s the key to growing rugby: making it a sport where fans watch and support many faces and not just one face.

As the clock turned on in 2024, Caitlin Clark received yet another splendid achievement that could fit into her list of achievements. On December 30th, Sporting News anointed her as the 2024 Female Athlete of the Year, and it seems almost preordained for someone who has made such an impact in the sport. The announcement raved about how Clark has been a force for college, high school, and youth basketball and boasted that she will only become more influential as her WNBA career progresses. But hey let’s not forget the queen of rugby herself, Ilona Maher. Yes, she has been rocking the boat through her performance on the field, but what makes her even more special is the impact she has off the field.

Ilona Maher continues to make waves off the field!

For the ever-evolving women’s sports, Ilona Maher is an absolute game changer. This rugby queen isn’t only winning games but also breaking barriers and inspiring change with ease. Through her powerhouse plays, the brass-tacks attitude, and the social media presence that is all laughs, Ilona is leading the charge for the future of women’s sports. She is all about the real deal, the plus size, and the body positivity, and she is here to tell the world that strong, fierce, and unapologetic is the way to go.

Rugby is often considered a tough-guy sport, but Ilona is flipping that stereotype in its head. She is 5’10 tall and commands every moment on the pitch, and this woman shows that no game is too big for women to conquer. Her message is simple: there’s no such thing as being “too tough” or “too bold.” She also focuses on raising people, on ensuring the next generation is aware that this field is theirs for the taking.

And let’s not forget how she mastered social media. Ilona stays true to herself with comedy TikToks and real-life snippets of what it is like to be a professional athlete. From body image struggles to mental health chats, she’s breaking down walls and inspiring others to love themselves as they are.