Nick Saban’s Sports Enthusiast Daughter Kristen Gushes Over Olympian Rugby Star Ilona Maher Amidst 2024 Paris Olympics

Being THE Nick Saban’s daughter, Kristen Saban will break boundaries. Other than football, she has found a new game to love. Why wouldn’t she? After all, it’s the much-awaited 2024 Paris Olympics. And guess who stole the GOAT’s daughter’s heart? The 27-year-old American rugby phenom Ilona Maher has turned the Olympic stage into a blazing hot show.

Meanwhile, Kristen keeps track of sports beyond football, from golf to baseball. She was the one who got all excited about Jalen Milroe’s meet-up with 6x All-Star Aaron Judge. 

Rugby star Ilona Maher is Kristen’s new favorite

The 2024 Paris Olympics are here, and the ultimate sports extravaganza is rolling. And out of the many rugby stars, Ilona Maher has stolen the spotlight. She is all set to compete as a women’s rugby sevens team member. Having her roots in New England and a graduate of Quinnipiac University, she has been playing for the team since 2018. In the 2020 Olympics, she competed when her team was placed sixth. On July 27, she posted a reel on Instagram flaunting different walks, captioning it as, “Practing my run out before gametime tomorrow.” 

Her electrifying presence on social media stood out for Kristen, who gave Maher a shoutout by sharing her reel with the caption, “No because why is @ilonamaher my new favorite person on the internet.” When athletes are often burdened with the perception of having a slim and toned body, Maher raised her voice for being overweight and clapped back at the naysayers. Besides playing rugby, she aims to promote body positivity and wellness. And this was enough to woo Kristen, who loves all kinds of sports. 

Kristen’s excitement over Milroe’s New York adventure

This season, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe has heavy expectations. Amidst the prep session, he took a break and flew to New York to take part in the New York Yankees vs. New York Jets matchup. And it brought him a strike of good luck. Milroe got involved in a cool gift swap with MLB star Aaron Judge. 

While Judge gifted him a bat and a pair of cleats, it was made extra special with a Judge touch as it had a note written, “To Jalen- Continued Success!” Milroe, too, gifted him a No. 99 Crimson Tide football jersey. And more than the QB, Kristen was knocked over by excitement. Sharing a moment from the special day, ex-HC Saban’s daughter wrote, “Bama (handshake emoji) Yankees.” On a side note, Milroe was Kristen’s father’s favorite student.   

Kristen and the Saban family were spotted at the Greystone Golf & Country Club in May. But what for? The proud daughter of the GOAT was there to cheer for her Daddy Cool, who took part in the Regions Tradition Pro-Am. That being said, Kristen’s love for sports goes beyond her dad’s league.