A Multi‑Sport Trailblazer
Sena Catterall, a Detroit fifth‑round draft pick, is transitioning from a successful baseball career to professional hockey, marking the latest chapter in a dual‑sport journey that has defined her athletic identity.
For years she balanced winter hockey with summer baseball, using each season to sharpen different facets of her game. The mental discipline required to excel in baseball’s split‑second decision‑making has now become a cornerstone of her hockey IQ, she says.
Her baseball résumé includes a 2023 Ashley Stephenson Award, a 2024 designation as Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team Most Valuable Player, and a tournament stint where she hit .500, scored eight runs, stole six bases, and earned Best Defensive Player honors.
Catterall’s collegiate achievements are equally impressive: she captured a national championship with John Abbott College, completed a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at Clarkson University in just three years, and captained the team during her final season, posting 50 goals in 111 games.
The draft itself was a family affair. When the PWHL selected her 51st overall, her father Chris Catterall was on hand in Detroit, visibly moved and offering the steady support that has characterized her career.
Beyond the statistics, Catterall sees the move as an opportunity to explore a new professional landscape. She notes that the mental side of baseball has sharpened her focus, and she hopes that same edge will translate into success with one of the league’s four expansion teams.
The broader context adds intrigue: the first professional women’s baseball league in more than 25 years, the WPBL, is slated to launch in August with only four teams, underscoring the scarcity of opportunities in the sport and the significance of Catterall’s pivot.