Cat Petteys Wins BIG EAST Freshman of the Year

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

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