Ilona Maher made her first home start for the Bristol Bears on Saturday. Although the match went extremely well for her team, it did not go as well for the international rugby phenom.
She broke her nose on a vicious tackle during the first half.
Maher, 28, was the biggest breakout star of the Olympic Games in Paris over the summer. Not only did she lead the United States to its first-ever bronze medal, she captivated the entire world on social media. No rugby player in history has ever been more popular— men’s or women’s.
As a result of her impressive on-field performance (and the size of her brand), Maher recently signed to play for the Bristol Bears of Premiership Women’s Rugby on a three-month contract. Fans are packing the stands to watch the American center play and they are not leaving disappointed!
Bristol won Maher’s full debut on the road at Exter earlier this week. She even helped to lift the Bears over the Chiefs with a crucial try during the second half!
With her full debut behind her, Ilona Maher made her first start at home on Saturday. More than 5,000 supporters showed up.
A first home start for @ilona_maher 😍#BRIvLEI | #BristolBears pic.twitter.com/GqfmafElLj
— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) January 18, 2025
Although the pro-Bristol crowd was treated to a win, they did not get to watch much of Maher in action. A broken nose forced her to come out of the game long before it was over.
Unfortunately, the PWR has not shared any additional video of the big hit that relegated Maher to the bench. (If you see one, please let me know!) She got rocked.
Maher knew something was wrong as soon as she got back to her feet. It was pretty brutal.
Ilona Maher could not even enjoy the victory with the Bears because she was forced to hold the ice to her nose throughout the entire postgame celebration.
Take it away @delaney_giles 🎶#BRIvLEI | #BristolBears pic.twitter.com/uCe1nUp006
— Bristol Bears Women 🐻 (@BristolBearsW) January 18, 2025
It is currently unclear as to when Maher might return to the pitch. However, a timeline for a rugby injury is typically much shorter than other sports. They are some tough women!