Arizona will be searching for several players at a critical position this portal season. Sophomore catcher Emma Kavanagh has announced her intention to enter the transfer portal when it opens on June 8.
Kavanagh will become the third sophomore catcher to transfer in the last three years, joining Olivia DiNardo and Emily Schepp. DiNardo left for Nebraska two years ago. She had a great season last year as a junior, but is not playing this season after offseason surgery. Schepp left after last season.
She was critical in helping Arizona State beat Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament and helped her team reach the super regionals this year.
Overall, Arizona has lost a catcher each of the last four years. All came to the program very highly rated. Sharlize Palacios left for UCLA after head coach Caitlin Lowe’s first year.
While the departures of DiNardo, Schepp, and Palacios were big, Kavanagh’s departure could hit even harder. Both of the other catchers on the roster were seniors this year. While Kez Lucas had catcher listed as a tertiary position on her recruiting profiles, she isn’t someone who could legitimately called a catcher on this year’s roster.
The Wildcats do not have a catcher in the incoming recruiting class. The class consists of two players who play primarily on the left side of the infield, two outfielders, and a pitcher.
Kavanagh started the year sharing designated player duties with Anyssa Wild, but after Wild was injured, she didn’t become the everyday DP. Instead, Tele Jennings took over that role. As Big 12 play rolled around and Kavanagh was primarily a pinch hitter, her numbers plummeted.
Kavanagh had some big plate appearances in the regional final. She came in to pinch hit for Regan Shockey after Shockey was injured in an obstruction at second base in the first game. Shockey took over running after Kavanagh drew the walk. In the second game, she had an RBI single that helped cut into Duke’s lead.
She played in a total of 68 games at Arizona and made 31 starts, primarily at designated player. In 2026, she played in 40 games with 19 starts. She raised her stats across the board this season, hitting .292 and slugging .585 in 65 at-bats. She had five home runs and 19 RBI. She also drew 16 walks for an on-base percentage of .427.
In her two years at Arizona, Kavanagh hit .273. She had six home runs, 26 RBI, and drew 29 walks. She had a slugging percentage of .525 and an on-base percentage of .427.
Kavanagh came to Arizona as the NFCA Catcher of the Year her senior year in high school. She had spent the previous two years as one of the Wildcats’ biggest online supporters, supporting every sports team on campus via social media. She was behind Sydney Stewart and Schepp as a freshman, so she didn’t get a lot of time on the field. She spent last summer playing summer ball and working on other positions to try to get onto the field more often. She has plans to do so again this summer, but it will be for the benefit of another program.
