The UConn Softball team will kick off their 2025 fall ball schedule on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Elliot Ballpark, with a double header against Post and Franklin Pierce. Last spring, the Huskies advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001, but are facing multiple key offseason departures. Entering her seventh season at the helm, head coach Laura Valentino and her staff will spend the fall evaluating their roster options as they look to make back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for the first time this century.
2025 Big East Player of the Year Grace Jenkins transferred to Arizona after leading the Huskies in most offensive statistical categories in 2025. The senior catcher won UConn’s team Triple Crown in 2025. Sophomore Heidi Barber, who batted .115 in 26 at bats last season, and freshman Alexis Juhl will be looked towards to fill the void of catcher left by Jenkins’s departure.
UConn also lost multiple key contributors to graduation. Four-time All-Big East honoree and 2024 Big East Player of the Year Lexi Hastings departed after playing the fourth most games in program history and setting a program record for stolen bases and runs scored. All-Big East third baseman Rosie Garcia graduated as well, leaving another hole at the top of UConn’s lineup. Staff ace Payton Kinney left the program on a high note after winning the 2025 Big East Tournament Outstanding Player award.
Sophomore Cat Petteys is the Huskies’ best returning player. The shortstop was named the 2025 Big East Freshman of the Year and was also a member of the All-Big-East first team. Topped by only Jenkins in most statistical categories, Pettys had the highest OPS in 2025 of any returning players with an impressive 1.251. Junior outfielder Kaitlyn Breslin led returners in home runs in 2025 with 16 and joined Petteys on the All-Big East team. Senior first baseman Kaiea Higa should round out the top of the order for the Huskies after a strong first season in Storrs in 2025.
Kaitlyn Kibling, who started all of UConn’s 54 games in centerfield last season, also returns for her senior year. While the glove-first outfielder didn’t provide much at the plate, she played stellar defense in center and did not commit an error while making 97 putouts. Fellow senior Savannah Ring’s numbers at the plate took a downturn last season after a solid first two seasons, but the utility infielder will likely still be a frequent member of the Huskies lineup. Haley Coupal, another utility infielder, had a breakout season at the plate in 2025. After getting on base at .414 clip over 33 games, the senior should be in line for more playing time this upcoming season.
The top newcomer is Providence transfer Jessica Walter. In four seasons with the Friars, Walter pitched to a 17-11 record of 73 appearances with a 3.89 ERA. Red-shirt junior Sydnee Koosh threw the most innings of any returner at 78.2, while no other player on UConn’s current roster pitched more than 20 collegiate innings last year. Walter figures to be a big piece in replacing around 200 innings of vacant work left by Kinney and Hope Jenkins, who transferred to Mississippi.
UConn will play their first game of the weekend against Post at 11:30 a.m. followed by game two against Franklin Pierce at 2 p.m. Both teams are members of the NCAA’s Division II. For the Eagles, who went just 4-38 last season, third baseman Nyla Sapia will return for her senior year after leading the team amongst qualified hitters with a solid .365 OBP. The Ravens have a true standout player in junior Charlit Hartenstein, who posted a 1.013 OPS as a sophomore and chipped in four home runs on her way to All-NE 10 honors. Franklin Pierce, who finished 22-19, figures to be the tougher of the two matchups for the Huskies.
Fall ball softball is back, and there is a ton of statistical information that I really appreciate being used in this article.
Important thing to note, though: UConn Softball plays at Burrill Family Field (at the Connecticut Softball Complex), not Elliot Ballpark.
The UConn baseball team plays at Elliot Ballpark.