2025 in a nutshell: Ilona Maher shares her favorite moments as she wraps the year with game moments and stunning outfits

Ilona Maher closed 2025 by opening a window into a year that rarely slowed down. With elite competition, public appearances, and major milestones packed into twelve months, the Olympic rugby standout chose to let images tell the story of a year. Her year end recap appeared on Instagram.The post landed as Maher continued to expand her footprint across athletics and culture. While Rugby remained the foundation of her career, her glamorous fashion, television, and advocacy also stood out. The carousel showed the best moments of her in 2025 that she spent in her game of passion, with friends and family. Ilona Maher shared a 20-photo carousel with her followers, capturing what she described as a “spectacular” year. The cover image showed her in a black gown, champagne glass in hand, framed by a sunset. The next image showed Maher with a bloodied nose after the competition. The sequence reflected the pace of her life in a year.Some other photos captured major milestones. One image featured Maher posing with her Barbie doll released by Mattel in October. Another documented her time touring with the Dancing With the Stars cast after finishing as runner-up. She also highlighted walking the runway in Miami, winning the ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete, and meeting Malala Yousafzai on the rugby pitch.Maher’s rise accelerated after she helped deliver the United States its first Olympic rugby medal with bronze at the Paris Games. Her behind-the-scenes TikTok videos often bring millions of views. On top of that, she appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition and on national television. She now commands a massive social following and continues to speak openly about body positivity and the realities facing women in professional sports.Maher previously addressed speculation about her future. In August 2025, she confirmed she had been contacted by WWE while preparing for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.“I've been approached before by the WWE,” she told BBC Sport, adding humor about a possible ring name. “I don't know if I would [go into wrestling]. I should think about it, there is great money in it.”Maher explained that any move into wrestling would support long-term creative goals. “I would love to get into the acting space and the scripted space. I think a Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson, John Cena progression - I would love to do that,” she said.Still, she made her priorities clear. “So many times people forget, but I am a rugby player first,” Maher said. “I am proud to do both but I do want to be known as a rugby player.”Maher’s 2025 ended on a good note, and she is looking to get the best out of the coming year.Also Read: Björn Borg and Patricia Östfeldt combined net worth in 2025: Former tennis world no 1 career, earnings, investments and life after drug addiction