Ilona Maher Receives Huge Fan Support After Horrific Injury: “Oh My God”

Of course, in true Ilona Maher fashion, she handled the whole thing with her signature humor. Taking to Instagram after the game, she posted photos of her swollen face and bruised eyes, joking, “Can you stop fighting over me, there’s enough to go around. I am a model, yes, thank you, thank you so much. Oh, you’ve already fallen in love? It’ll pass, it’ll pass—they’re obsessed.” Fans loved it, and, of course, flooded the comments with praise for her unshakable spirit.

Fans shower Ilona Maher with love and support after injury

One fan wrote, “You even bruise awesome 🙌.” Another chimed in with a heartfelt comment, saying, “You are hilarious and beautiful. Thank you for the example of womanhood you set for girls and women of all ages: fearless, warm, funny, intelligent, authentic, and above all, FIERCE. I am so proud of you. ❤️” Yet another added with excitement, “Not just any model… Sports Illustrated model!!!”

This isn’t the first time Maher has balanced her on-field grit with off-field glamor. Ilona Maher helped lead the Olympic rugby team to a bronze medal. She also made history as the face of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in August 2024. These achievements highlight her strength and determination. By sharing unfiltered, bruised-up selfies with her fans, she showed that she’s not just a sports icon—she’s authentically real.

One more fan wrote, “Wishing you a speedy recovery!” while another added, “Oh my God, queen 😭😭 Wishing you a speedy recovery xxx.” Fans everywhere are hoping Ilona Maher bounces back soon, especially since she recently signed a three-month contract to play for the Bristol Bears in Premiership Women’s Rugby. As of now, it’s unclear when she’ll return to the pitch, but rugby players are known for their resilience, and recovery timelines in the sport are often shorter than in others. These women are seriously tough!