University of Connecticut Athletics
Cat Petteys Named BIG EAST Player of the Year
5/6/2026 8:52:00 AM | Softball
NEW YORK – UConn sophomore standout shortstop Cat Petteys has been named the 2026 BIG EAST Player of the Year, becoming the seventh player in program history to earn the prestigious honor. This marks the third consecutive year UConn has garnered the BIG EAST Player of the Year award under head coach Laura Valentino (Grace Jenkins, 2025 & Lexi Hastings, 2024).
Petteys (Vestal, N.Y.) led the Huskies to a share of the BIG EAST Regular Season title with an 18-6 record in league play. In BIG EAST play this season, Petteys posted conference highs in doubles (10), home runs (10), RBI (32), slugging percentage (.974), and total bases (74). Petteys boasted a .447 batting average across 94 plate appearances, recording 34 hits with 12 walks, giving her a .521 on base percentage in 24 conference games.
Petteys has started in all 53 games at shortstop for the Huskies this season, anchoring the Huskies both defensively and offensively. Following an exceptional rookie season where she was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Petteys has put together another outstanding year at the plate, leading the Huskies roster in almost every offensive statistical category. The sophomore slugger has set new career highs this season in hits (65), doubles (15), home runs (17), and RBI (54). In just 106 career games played, Petteys already has 32 career home runs, two shy of the all-time program record (34, Micah Truax).
Defensively, Petteys has captained the Huskies infield from her shortstop position all season long, making 77 putouts with 100 assists, committing just ten errors giving her a career high .947 fielding percentage. Her stellar play on defense has propelled UConn to a .967 fielding percentage this season, ranking second in the conference.
This marks the first time in program history UConn has received the BIG EAST Player of the Year award in three consecutive seasons. Petteys becomes the third player in program history to win the BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Year awards (Grace Jenkins, & Andrea D'Innocenzo).
2026 BIG EAST Softball Major Awards & All-Conference Teams
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Cat Petteys, So., SS, UConn
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year: Alyssa Twomey, Jr., P, Providence
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year: Ashten Pierson, Jr., SS, Creighton
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Keegan Mayhue, Fr., 1B, Creighton
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year: Providence
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Makena Alexander, Jr., 1B, Butler
Hailey Conger, Sr., OF, Butler
Cate Lehner, Sr., OF, Butler
Cat Petteys, So., SS, UConn
Jessica Walter, Gr., P, UConn
Audrey Gilman, Fr., P, Creighton
Erika Perez, Sr., 3B, Creighton
Tara Vandewater, So., 2B, Creighton
Lily West, Sr., C, Creighton*
Dayanara Campos, Sr., DP, Georgetown
Emily Jonte, Sr., OF, Providence
Alyssa Twomey, Jr., P, Providence*
Ana Serafinko, Sr., P, St. John's
Maranda Runco, Jr., 1B, Villanova
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Maren Berger, RS-So., P, Butler
Katie Petran, Jr., P, Butler
Caprice Bohmer, Fr., P, UConn
Kaitlyn Kibling, Sr., CF, UConn
Savannah Ring, Sr., 2B, UConn
Ashten Pierson, Jr., SS, Creighton
Kaelan Schultz, Jr., DP, Creighton
Jolie Adams, So., OF, DePaul
Cameron Dunn, Jr., 2B, Providence
Hailey Frantz, Fr., C, Providence
Sofia Peterson, Sr., 3B, Providence
Julia Renny, Sr., 1B, Providence
Angelina Benitez, So., OF, Seton Hall
Erin Howard, Sr., C, Seton Hall
^Denotes a tie in voting
*Denotes a unanimous selection
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