NEW 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.
Jenkins (Folsom, Calif.) led UConn to an 18-6 conference record and a top two finish in the BIG EAST regular season for the fourth consecutive year. In BIG EAST play this season, Jenkins boasted a .475 batting average, slugged nine homers, and drove in 33 RBI. She is the BIG EAST leader in doubles (12), runs scored (33), and on-base percentage (.580).
Jenkins has had an exceptional year at the plate this season, surpassing multiple single-season program records, including home runs, doubles, RBI, walks, and total bases. She has started in all 49 games for the Huskies this season, maintaining a .416 batting average over 161 at bats. Her 19 home runs, 19 doubles, 64 RBI, and .888 slugging percentage were all conference-leading statistics. Jenkins has been a tough out at the top of the Huskies lineup all season long, leading the roster with a .513 on-base percentage, with only 15 strikeouts, the second fewest among players with at least 30 at bats on the roster.
Behind the plate, Jenkins posted a .990 fielding percentage as UConn's backstop, making 183 putouts with 13 assists, only committing two errors this season.
This is the fourth time in program history UConn has produced back to back BIG EAST Players of the Year.
Lexi Hastings & Grace Jenkins – 2024 & 2025
Micah Truax – 2007 & 2008
Shari Blackman & Andrea D'Innocenzo – 1994 & 1995
Janna Venice – 1992 & 1993
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
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Latest Women's Softball
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