The WNBA season came to a close on Sunday as the Aces defeated the Sun in Game 4 to win their first championship in franchise history. That milestone brings us to naming our final team of the month.

For September, the roster is made up of players from Las Vegas and Connecticut whose performances kept their teams alive into the apex of the WNBA season.

Chelsea Gray, G, Las Vegas Aces

There’s no team of the month without Finals MVP Chelsea Gray, who averaged 21.7 points, seven assists and 3.8 rebounds per game during the postseason. In September alone, she averaged 22.2 points per game, recording a double-double of 31 points and 10 assists in Game 4 of the semifinals against Seattle to propel the Aces into the Finals.

Throughout the playoffs, Gray made tough shot after tough shot, shooting 61.7 percent from the field and 66.7 percent on contested shots.

Riquna Williams, G, Las Vegas Aces

RIQUNA WILLIAMS STEP-BACK. CLUTCH 🥶 pic.twitter.com/BlVetsPxX7

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 18, 2022

Gray may be the Finals MVP, but the Aces wouldn’t have won Game 4 without Riquna Williams, who came off the bench to score 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the 3-point line. She made four of those 3-pointers during the fourth quarter, which made up nearly half of the Aces’ 25 points in the frame.

Her final two 3-pointers came in the last 1:39 of play. The first gave Las Vegas a two-point lead, and the second extended their advantage to four points with just 53 seconds to go.

A’ja Wilson, F, Las Vegas Aces

The WNBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year continued her dominance in September, recording five double-doubles. She started the month with a 34-point and 11-rebound performance and followed it up with 23 points and 13 rebounds to help the Aces advance past the Storm in the semifinals.

Wilson ended the month averaging 20 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in the Finals. Wilson was on the court for nearly every big moment for the Aces, averaging 37.2 minutes per game during the postseason.

Alyssa Thomas, F, Connecticut Sun

Connecticut’s floor leader made history in Game 3, becoming the first WNBA player to record a triple-double in the Finals when she finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists to help her team force a Game 4. Then she did it again in that game, recording 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a Herculean effort to try to keep the Sun’s season from ending.

Jonquel Jones, F, Connecticut Sun

While Thomas was making history, Jonquel Jones was fighting an intense battle with Wilson in the paint. During the Finals, the 2021 MVP averaged 16 points and 8.3 rebounds. She also kept the Sun alive in Game 4 with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, both of which came against Wilson. And in the semifinals, Jones pushed her team past the Sky in Game 5, recording a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Second Team

Kelsey Plum, G, Las Vegas Aces

Plum came alive in Game 2, exploiting the Sun defense with drives to the basket and scoring 20 points to give her team a 2-0 lead in the series. She had 15 points, three assists and three steals in Game 4 to help the Aces seal the championship.

DeWanna Bonner, G/F, Connecticut Sun

In Game 3 of the Finals, Bonner kept the Sun from being swept by using her length to defend Gray, who finished with 11 points but only scored two when Bonner was guarding her. She also recorded 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in that contest.

DEFENSE ➡️ OFFENSE‼️#WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/KSopwhOQTM

— ESPN (@espn) September 16, 2022

Breanna Stewart, F, Seattle Storm

Despite playing just two games in September, Breanna Stewart earns a second team nod because of her monster numbers. She had 20 points and 15 rebounds in Game 3 against the Aces, and then 42 points in Game 4 as she battled to keep her team alive in the series.

Jewell Loyd, G, Seattle Storm

Like Stewart, Jewell Loyd did everything she could for the Storm in a memorable semifinals series against the Aces. Loyd had 17 points in Game 3, and then 29 points in Game 4.

Kahleah Copper, G/F, Chicago Sky

The Sky played three games in September — one win and two losses against the Sun in the semifinals — and Copper was solid throughout, averaging 17.7 points per game.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

UConn basketball will celebrate one of its most consistent stars Wednesday night, when WNBA standout and UConn alum Aaliyah Edwards becomes the latest Huskies of Honor member before the women's team hosts Xavier at Gampel Pavilion.

Edwards epitomized reliability throughout her career at UConn, missing just three games in four seasons while steadily improving her game. She earned BIG EAST Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021 and BIG EAST Most Improved Player in 2023. In her final year, she collected 2024 All-BIG EAST, Wooden Award All-American, and WBCA All-American honors.

The Kingston, Ontario native racked up 1,861 points and 1,020 rebounds through her four years, finishing 16th in program history in total career points and eighth in rebounds. The Washington Mystics took Edwards No. 6 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, before a midseason trade saw her join the Connecticut Sun last year.

Legendary UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma praised Edwards's approach, celebrating both her improvement and her drive during a rough run for the now-No. 1 team.

"Sometimes careers go smoothly; sometimes it's rocky," said Auriemma. "[Edwards] managed to make the best out of a very difficult situation."

Her No. 3 jersey will be added to the wall at Gampel Pavilion during tonight's ceremony.

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Of course, today's reigning NCAA champions enter the Xavier rematch on a perfect 21-0 record, having won 16 consecutive victories by at least 25 points. The Huskies routed the unranked Musketeers 104-39 in their first meeting back in late November, hitting a season-high 18 three-pointers while forcing 31 turnovers.

Despite their odds, Auriemma emphasized that UConn basketball must avoid complacency going forward. The team already faced challenges against Seton Hall in Saturday's weather-impacted matchup, overcoming an early deficit to win 92-52.

How to watch UConn basketball in this week's NCAA slate

UConn tips off against Xavier on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, live on Peacock.

However, bigger tests are looming as the Huskies prepare to face SEC mainstay No. 15 Tennessee this Sunday at 12 PM ET, live on FOX.

Tennis legend Serena Williams publicly defended Coco Gauff following the young US star's viral racket-smashing moment at the Australian Open, offering support and advice to the world No. 3.

After Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina in just 59 minutes on Tuesday, cameras captured her smashing her racket in frustration while walking through the Rod Laver Arena tunnel. The 21-year-old had intentionally left the court hoping to avoid public view, but the TV broadcast chose to air the moment live.

Serena Williams quickly came to Gauff's defense on social media, echoing sentiments shared by her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The 44-year-old assured Gauff that passion and caring matter, and there's nothing wrong with hating to lose.

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Serena Williams then playfully offered to teach Gauff how to demolish a racket in one swing, referencing her own history with similar outbursts during her legendary career.

Gauff responded to the criticism by emphasizing she deliberately avoids breaking rackets on court and only did so in what she believed was a private space. She called for increased privacy for players, noting that the locker room serves as the Melbourne tournament's only truly private area.

Williams faced similar scrutiny throughout her decorated career, garnering attention for emotional displays including racket-smashing incidents resulting in fines. Despite occasional controversies, she became one of the greatest athletes of all time, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles and holding the No. 1 ranking for 186 consecutive weeks.

Jessica Pegula and Iga Świątek also voiced support for Gauff, agreeing that cameras have become too intrusive at tournaments. The incident subsequently sparked broader conversations about player privacy and mental health in professional tennis.

USWNT forward Trinity Rodman created a viral moment with coach Emma Hayes during Tuesday's 5-0 US victory over Chile, as the star striker convinced her manager to join her sideline dance at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, California.

Rodman found the net for the second straight match in the friendly, capping a dominant USWNT performance that extended the team's winning streak to six games. After her goal, Rodman ran to meet Hayes on the edge of the pitch to perform a viral "Sexy Dexy" celebration dance — fulfilling a promise they made before the match.

Hayes revealed postgame that Rodman had brought up the celly idea earlier that day. The USWNT coach admitted she doubted the 23-year-old would score in the crowded attacking situation, making the moment even more memorable when Rodman delivered.

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The USWNT dominated the contest, with Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph, Emily Sams, and Emma Sears all adding their names to the score sheet before Rodman subbed on the 64th minute. Hayes fielded a young starting lineup averaging just 5.2 national team appearances — the fewest since 2001.

The coach praised Rodman not only for her exceptional playing ability, but also for bringing joy to the USWNT camp and fanbase, stressing how she maintains high standards while creating positive energy.

Rodman recently made headlines by signing a record-breaking contract with the Washington Spirit, becoming the highest-paid women's soccer player in history. On Saturday, she captained the USWNT to a 6-0 victory over Paraguay, opening the year's friendly calendar in style.

What's next for Trinity Rodman and the USWNT?

The USWNT will next compete in March's SheBelieves Cup before focusing on November's 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers.

The first two matches will air live on TNT, with TBS broadcasting the final game against Colombia.

Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala advanced to the quarterfinals of the inaugural Philippine Women's Open with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory over Japan's Himeno Sakatsume on Wednesday.

The win marks a significant turnaround for Eala, who previously lost to Sakatsume 6-0, 6-3 at the 2023 Japan Open. Playing on home soil, the Philippines native delivered a dominant performance that showcased growth and depth since the pair's last meeting.

The opening set proved competitive, with both players swapping holds and breaks through the first eight games. Eala broke through with power in the ninth, claiming the game and serving out the set to take a one-set lead.

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Despite taking another medical timeout before the second set, Eala never lost momentum. The 20-year-old closed out the match with a 6-0 second set, dropping just four games in the WTA 125 tournament's Round of 16.

With top seed Tatjana Maria eliminated in the Round of 16, Alexandra Eala now holds the highest ranking among remaining competitors. The world No. 84 faces Colombia's Camila Osorio in Thursday's quarterfinal match.

The Philippine Women's Open represents a homecoming for Eala, who continues building steam in her professional tennis career.

How to watch Alexandra Eala in the Philippine Women's Open quarterfinals

Eala takes on Colombia's Camila Osorio on Thursday at 6 AM ET, streaming live on WTA Unlocked’s 125Live.