Burlington's Ilona Maher named to US women's rugby sevens team for 2024 Paris Olympics

It’s official: Vermont's Ilona Maher is headed back to the Olympic Games.

As expected, Maher was among the 12 starting athletes named to the 2024 United States women’s Olympic rugby sevens squad for the 2024 Paris Games, USA Rugby announced Monday.

Maher, a 2014 Burlington High School graduate, will compete in her second straight Summer Games for rugby sevens.

Maher and the Eagles have match dates slated for July 28, 29 and 30 on Peacock and NBC Networks. Pools and more scheduling details will be announced next week.

Finishing fifth in Rio 2016 and sixth in Tokyo 2020, the US women’s rugby sevens squad is chasing a medal this summer. They have yet to medal in team history.

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Maher, a member of the national team since 2018, is one of seven players on the roster making at least their second appearance at the Olympics.

“We are very excited about this team, we have an excellent blend of speed, power, work ethic, skill, and creativity that we know will ignite our brand of rugby,” head coach Emilie Bydwell said in a statement. “The players compliment each other extremely well, enabling individuals to express their strengths and simultaneously bring out the super powers of those around them and the team.”

The team will depart July 14 for pre-tournament training camp.

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