The NWSL in September was full of fast and furious competition, leading the Shield and playoff race to tighten with every passing week. After August favored defensive players, attackers had a very strong September, and their teams crowded the top of the NWSL table.

Here are our picks for the most outstanding players of the regular season in September, with one player leading the way.

Player of the Month

Kerolin, F, North Carolina Courage

Kerolin had another exceptional month in the NWSL regular season, scoring two goals and notching two assists in September to keep North Carolina firmly in the league’s competitive playoff race. One of those goals came on Oct. 1, but with that slate of games technically closing out the final match week of September, we’re giving it the nod here.

The Brazilian forward’s most comprehensive performance of the month came on Sept. 2, when she scored one goal and registered two assists in a wild 3-3 draw against Shield contender Gotham FC. Kerolin ranks in the top four of both American Soccer Analysis’ goals added category and xG metrics for the month, keeping the Courage alive as they have otherwise struggled to turn chance creation into goals. She now sits on 10 goals, just one behind league leader Sophia Smith, who returned to training with the Thorns last week after suffering a mild MCL sprain in August.

Kerolin also had a goal in the Courage’s Challenge Cup final victory. While that does not technically count toward the regular season awards, it just serves as more evidence of how in-form the 23-year-old has been since she returned from the World Cup.

Honorable mentions

Jaedyn Shaw, M/F, San Diego Wave

Jaedyn Shaw continued to step into a larger role in the San Diego attack in September, scoring one goal and recording one assist as the Wave became the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Shaw has the ability to thread the ball into the box from an attacking midfield position, and she is also very comfortable running to the endline to send low crosses in for her teammates to capitalize on in front of net.

Jaedyn Shaw puts it on a platter for Kyra Carusa. 🌊

Stream the game for FREE on CBS Sports Golazo Network available on the @CBSSports App and @PlutoTV. 📲 pic.twitter.com/QYZBAHdAiO

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) October 1, 2023

Alex Morgan, F, San Diego Wave

Alex Morgan ended her goal drought of almost four months in the Wave’s final match of September, sealing a huge win over Portland that lifted them to the top of the NWSL table and a playoff spot. The goal is a great sign that Morgan can overcome whatever mental block was ailing her in recent months. Her resurgence would be a boon for the Wave in the postseason after Morgan was excellent in all other attacking facets this month, including ASA’s goals added and xG metrics.

🚨ALEX MORGAN GOAL🚨@alexmorgan13 doubles San Diego's lead!! pic.twitter.com/GGAUaNnISa

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 1, 2023

Bianca St-Georges, D/M, Chicago Red Stars

Despite a tough climb into playoff contention, the Red Stars went undefeated in September, not least because of the confident play of Bianca St-Georges. St-Georges has become one of Chicago’s best attacking outlets on the right wing, as the team continues to compensate for the loss of injured star forward Mallory Swanson. The 26-year-old can cover a lot of ground in defensive transition and send the ball into the goal from tight wide spaces, and her two goals in September have kept Chicago alive.

The @chicagoredstars are in front! 💥@biancastgeorges with a powerful finish at the near post... and after VAR review, the goal stands! pic.twitter.com/qgSwLsQB0D

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 1, 2023

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

The USA Women's Eagles still have a shot at a 2025 Rugby World Cup knockouts run thanks to a dramatic 31-31 draw against Australia on Saturday — putting all the pressure on next weekend's group-stage finale.

After falling to host nation — and world No. 1 — England in the tournament's record-breaking opener, the now-No. 8 US squad kept their World Cup dreams alive by pulling level with the No. 7 Wallaroos.

Saturday's thrilling draw brought drama to the competition's mostly lopsided pool-play results so far, and spoiled what would have been a guaranteed spot in the quarterfinals for Australia.

"The mood is disappointment because we were so close [to a win]," said US star Ilona Maher following the game. "But also excitement because there is more to play for in that we're not going home just yet. We're definitely proud of the fight."

With England officially clinching the top spot in Pool A, Team USA now needs a blowout win over No. 15 Samoa with at least four tries scored (called a bonus point), as well as an Australian loss to England without a bonus point — plus a positive score differential over the Wallaroos — to advance.

How to watch Team USA at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup

The No. 8 USA will close out their group-stage run by taking on No. 15 Samoa at 8:30 AM ET on Saturday, before awaiting their fate when No. 7 Australia plays No. 1 England at 12 PM ET.

Live coverage of all 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup games streams on Paramount+.

The Naomi Osaka comeback tour continued on Monday, as the world No. 24 tennis star took down No. 3 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in the pair's Round of 16 match at the 2025 US Open — booking her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021 in the process.

"I'm a little sensitive and I don't want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here," Osaka said following the upset victory. "I was in the stands like two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play."

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Already a two-time US Open champion, Osaka has been eyeing a deep tournament run since returning from maternity leave in January 2024 — and she managed to take advantage of Gauff's fluctuating form to achieve her goal.

"It's disappointing," Gauff said after Monday's loss. "For sure it was not the level that I wanted to bring, but it is a step in the right direction, I feel. I maybe was a little bit empty — she forced me to earn every point out there today."

Japan's four-time Grand Slam winner will next face No. 13 Karolína Muchová in a Wednesday quarterfinal, with Osaka most recently ousting the Czechia national from the 2025 Australian Open's Round of 64.

How to watch the US Open quarterfinals

The 2025 US Open quarterfinals kicked off on Tuesday, with US star and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula booking her second straight semifinals berth at the New York Slam by defeating Czechia's No. 62 Barbora Krejčíková in straight sets.

The quarterfinals will continue when defending champion No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces another Czech contender, No. 60 Markéta Vondroušová, at 7 PM ET on Tuesday.

Wednesday will cap the round, with Osaka battling Muchová and Poland's No. 2 Iga Świątek taking on No. 9 US star Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of the 2025 Wimbledon final.

Live coverage of the 2025 US Open airs across ESPN platforms.

Despite a season spent at the bottom of the table, the No. 13 Chicago Stars have quietly become the NWSL team to beat, racking up a five-game undefeated streak behind a slate of dramatic draws — including Sunday's 1-1 result against the No. 2 Washington Spirit.

Come-from-behind draws fueled all five of the Stars' most recent points, with striker Ludmila having a particularly impressive star turn as of late.

The Brazilian national scored five times across Chicago's last three matches, including Sunday's lone team goal as well as a sub-10 minute hat trick that pulled the Stars level with the No. 10 North Carolina Courage on August 22nd.

"I think we'd be doing a disservice to the league if we laid down just because we're in last place and felt sorry for ourselves," quipped Stars defender Sam Staab.

Chicago will continue trying to extend their unbeaten streak under new interim manager Anders Jacobson, who oversaw his first NWSL match on Sunday while the Stars await the arrival of incoming permanent boss Martin Sjögren.

"It'll be a lot of him getting to know us, and us getting to know him in this next week or so," Staab said of the team's temporary head coach. "This league moves fast. Everything happens fast."

The No. 1 Kansas City Current tightened their grip atop the league on Saturday, claiming a 2-0 victory over the No. 10 North Carolina Courage to become the first NWSL team to clinch a spot in the 2025 playoffs.

Still undefeated at home on the year, Saturday's win marked the Current's sixth straight regular-season shutout and extended their lead in the NWSL standings to a massive 14 points.

"Our goal is to come out as a group and be the best that we can possibly be every game we play," said KC head coach Vlatko Andonovski afterwards. "We celebrate tonight, we rest tomorrow, and we get ready for the next one."

Though Kansas City is reaching historic heights, the rest of the league is sparking more questions than answers: The No. 4 Orlando Pride and No. 5 Seattle Reign are now on multiple-game winless streaks, and the No. 6 Portland Thorns have managed just one win in their last five matches.

On the flip side, No. 9 Angel City is making a concerted effort, extending their unbeaten run to four games with Monday's 2-1 win over No. 12 Bay FC — all while star winger Alyssa Thompson sat out amid mounting midseason transfer rumors.

"This group, the way they play and how they can grow together, I'm so proud of them today," said LA head coach Alexander Straus. "It's not been easy with all these things, the speculation and stuff."

2025 NWSL standings: Week 18

1. Kansas City Current (15-2-1)
2. Washington Spirit (9-4-5)
3. San Diego Wave FC (8-4-6)
4. Orlando Pride (8-6-4)
5. Seattle Reign FC (7-5-6)
6. Portland Thorns FC (7-6-5)
7. Racing Louisville FC (7-6-5)
8. Gotham FC (6-6-6)
9. Angel City FC (6-7-5)
10. North Carolina Courage (5-7-6)
11. Houston Dash (5-8-5)
12. Bay FC (4-9-5)
13. Chicago Stars FC (1-9-8)
14. Utah Royals (2-11-5)