NEW YORK – UConn stellar freshman shortstop Cat Petteys has been tabbed as the 2025 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, becoming the sixth player in program history to receive the distinguished award. Shejoins Grace Jenkins, and Jana Sanden as the third player under head coach Laura Valentino to receive this honor.
Petteys (Vestal, N.Y.) has had an impressive rookie season in Storrs, playing a pivotal role in UConn's success this season. She helped the Huskies to an 18-6 conference record and top two finish in the BIG EAST regular season. Petteys was one of the top performers in conference action this season, maintaining a .427 batting average, while slugging ten home runs and driving in 31 runs batted in. Here nine doubles were second in the conference behind teammate and Player of the Year winner Grace Jenkins.
After not seeing game action in game one of the 2025 season, Petteys has started in every game since at shortstop. In her 48 games played this season, she boasts a .416 batting average, one of just two Huskies to hit over .400 this year. The rookie shortstop leads all freshmen in the conference this season with 12 home runs, 60 hits, 42 RBI, and a .506 on-base percentage. Petteys 12 home runs this season are the most ever posted by a UConn freshman. Her 42 RBI this season are the second most by a freshman in a season (44, Grace Jenkins-2023).
Petteys was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week six times throughout the season, earning four consecutive to end the regular season.
2025 BIG EAST Softball Major Awards & All-Conference Teams
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Grace Jenkins, Jr., C, UConn
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year: Ana Serafinko, Jr., P, St. John's
BIG EAST Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Ashten Pierson, So., SS, Creighton & London Jarrard, Sr., SS, St. John's
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Cat Petteys, Fr., SS, UConn
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year: St. John's
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Sydney Carter, Sr., 2B, Butler
Cate Lehner, Jr., OF, Butler*
Kaitlyn Breslin, So., OF, UConn
Rosie Garcia, Sr., 3B, UConn*
Grace Jenkins, Jr., C, UConn*
Payton Kinney, Gr., P, UConn
Cat Petteys, Fr., SS, UConn
Sydney Potter, So.,1B, Creighton
Sydra Seville, Sr., OF, Creighton
Loreley Francia, Jr., P, St. John's
Ana Serafinko, Jr., P, St. John's
Kat Gallant, Jr., P, Villanova
Maranda Runco, So., DP, Villanova
Kelsey White, Sr., UT/P, Villanova*
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Lexi Hastings, Sr., OF, UConn
Hope Jenkins, Jr., P, UConn
Kaelan Schultz, So., DP, Creighton
Lily West, Jr., C, Creighton
Baylee Cosgrove, Sr., 2B, DePaul
Victoria Grifone, Gr., P, Providence
Elisa Smith, Jr., OF, Providence
Jess Bianco, Jr., OF, St. John's
London Jarrard, Sr., SS, St. John's
Madison Konopka, Fr., 3B, St. John's
Kelsey Carr, Gr., DP, Seton Hall
Olivia Gilbert, Sr., 1B, Seton Hall
Caroline Hobbes, Jr., 2B, Seton Hall
Kyra Kreuscher, Jr., P, Seton Hall
^Denotes a tie in voting
*Denotes a unanimous selection
Follow our social media pages for updates.
Twitter – UConnSoftball
Instagram – UConnSoftball
Facebook – UConn Softball
Latest Women's Softball
- Huskies Beat Providence, Advance to the BIG EAST Tournament SemifinalVILLANOVA, P.a. – The No. 2 seed UConn softball team won their opening round game in the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament on Thursday afternoon, defeating the Providence Friars, 5-4 at the Villanova Softball Complex. Senior outfielder Lexi Hastings delivered a go-ahead ribbie single with two out in the bottom of the sixth, propelling the Huskies past the Friars.
- UConn Opens BIG EAST Tournament run Thursday afternoon as the No. 2 SeedSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team begins its run at the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament on Thursday, May 8. The two-seeded Huskies will take on either the third-seed Villanova Wildcats or six-seed Providence Friars at the Villanova Softball Complex. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00pm and will be streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
- Huskies Place Seven on All-BIG EAST TeamsNEW YORK – Seven softball student-athletes have earned BIG EAST All-Conference honors, announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon. The Huskies earned a league best, five first team selections in Kaitlyn Breslin, Rosie Garcia, Grace Jenkins, Payton Kinney, and Cat Petteys. UConn received two second team selections in Lexi Hastings, and Hope Jenkins.
- Grace Jenkins Named BIG EAST Player of the YearNEW YORK – UConn junior standout catcher Grace Jenkins has been named as the 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year, becoming the sixth player in program history to earn the prestigious award. She joins Lexi Hastings (2024) as the second player under head coach Laura Valentino to receive this honor.
- Huskies Fall in Regular Season finaleSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team fell to the St. John's Red Storm in extra innings, 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Burrill Family Field. UConn finishes the regular season with a 32-17 record, locking up the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament with a 18-6 conference record.
- Huskies Fall to St. John’s in game twoSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team lost to the St. John's Red Storm, 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at Burrill Family Field. With today's result, the Huskies and Johnnies are tied for first place in the conference standings with one game to decide the BIG EAST regular season championship, tomorrow, Sunday May 4 at 1:00pm.
