Ilona Maher just keeps leveling up on Dancing with the Stars with every episode. Paired with Alan Bersten, the Olympic bronze medalist has been wowing both fans and judges with her jaw-dropping dance moves. The 500th episode on November 12th really proved her star power when she nailed a quickstep routine. Despite the challenging moves, Ilona didn’t miss a beat, showing off her skills and earning a spot in the semi-finals. Now, she’s got a legit shot at taking home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy!

But here’s the real plot twist: along with the praise, Ilona and Alan have become the center of a dating rumor storm. Fans are absolutely obsessed with the duo and can’t help but imagine them as more than just dance partners. Things got so heated that Ilona had to step in and address the speculation.

Ilona Maher talks relationship rumors with Alan Bersten on social media

Talking to E! News after the conclusion of the recent DWTS episode, both Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten were asked whether they were aware of fans shipping them together on social media. Ilona admitted that she was aware of this and was enjoying the situation. “Yeah, we see, we see it all over. And honestly, keep doing it, people. We love it. I think honestly, if ship means relationship, we are, we are the besties. We love it.”

The rugby player went on to say that she really enjoys Alan’s company, and the duo has a lot of fun when they are together. Ilona Maher then went on to say that she does love Alan because she loves all her teammates and knows they have something special here. “I love him. I think we’re building something really beautiful here. I hope it continues,” she said.

But, after that, the duo started playing coy about the relationship rumors as they commented on how they loved the attention fans were giving them and were willing to take them for a ride. “I don’t know. It could be the last time we ever talk. I keep spreading lies,” said Ilona. Alan then chimed in, saying, “Could it become more? Could we see you guys, you know, like cast maybe? And you’ll have to find out.” Thus, neither of them is giving anything away at this moment. But their camaraderie and close bond are visible for the whole world to see.

The jovial relationship the DWTS duo shares

While Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten haven’t confirmed their relationship status, they have had a playful equation with each other for quite a long time. During an interview with Good Morning America, the rugby player was asked about her ideal boyfriend. She said, “I think somebody who is very proud of me, who is kind, who understands my humor, who is ready to eat…”

Alan, who was standing beside her, chimed in, saying, “You’re listing a lot of things about me!” Ilona then had to humorously ask him to stop talking. But this was enough for the fans to believe that something was going on between the two. Ilona and Alan have also shown their playful nature on social media.

During the US election week, DWTS took a break, and Ilona seized the moment to post a hilarious reel, joking that Alan Bersten might be missing her. In the caption, she wrote, “Realizing Alan probably hasn’t laughed in two days because we’ve been apart,” tagging Alan and asking, “Are you okay?”

Alan jumped into the comments with the same playful vibe, replying, “I’m hanging in there. But it’s tough. Can you get back here already?” So, while they’re not exactly confirming a romance, it’s clear they share some serious chemistry—both on and off the dance floor. Guess we’ll have to wait until the finale to get the full scoop on their relationship. Until then, we’ll just keep enjoying their stunning performances!