Getty Image / Brian Bahr
NIL has changed college sports in many ways, but most people focus on the impacts to basketball and football. Today’s transfer news regarding former Stanford superstar softball pitcher Nijaree Canady proves it has significantly impacted other sports.
Canady, widely regarded as the best pitcher in college softball and one of the best in the world, announced her commitment to Texas Tech on Wednesday for over $1 million in NIL money.
These past two years have been amazing and I thank @StanfordSball for the ride of a lifetime. Excited for what’s ahead! @TexasTechSB pic.twitter.com/C017QT51Gp
— NiJaree Canady (@CanadyNijaree) July 24, 2024
Here’s ESPN with more.
Her NIL agreement with Texas Tech will reach seven figures annually, a source told ESPN. It’s an unprecedented deal for a college softball player made possible by Texas Tech boosters John and Tracy Sellers.
Canady, a right-hander from Topeka, Kansas, transfers to Texas Tech with two years of eligibility remaining, and represents a monumental offseason addition for first-year coach Gerry Glasco, who was hired in Lubbock in June following seven seasons at Louisiana.
Canady’s commitment brings a close to the most hotly followed portal recruitment since the end of the 2024 softball season. The 2024 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year confirmed she took trips to Tennessee, Alabama, UCLA and Kansas over the past month before closing with a visit to the Red Raiders this week. By Wednesday, Canady had narrowed her decision to a return to Stanford or a move to Texas Tech. She ultimately committed to the Red Raiders before leaving Lubbock, swayed by Glasco’s vision for a program that has never reached the Women’s College World Series in its history.
That’s a lot of money. But, if anyone is worth it, it’s Nijaree Canady. She’s downright incredible, and her sophomore season somehow improved on an unreal freshman season. This year, she had a 0.73 ERA with 337 strikeouts. Yeah, that’s dominant.
Watch her take on one of the best softball teams ever, the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners, from last year’s Women’s College World Series.
She’s incredible and could very well star for Team USA at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. For now, she will be one of the highest-paid college athletes. She’s well-deserving.
As for Texas Tech, it’s not like they’re some power program. They were 8-16 last year in Big 12 play and have never been to the Women’s College World Series. Needless to say, that could change very soon. TThey hired well-respected Louisiana coach Gerry Gasco, and he’s brought a ton of talented transfers in around Canady. It appears they will be a contender next year.