On Wednesday, standout Stanford pitcher and USA Softball Player of the Year NiJaree Canady announced on X that she has committed to Texas Tech University.
Canady played a pivotal role in leading the Cardinal to the Women’s College World Series for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. She has reportedly signed a one-year name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal worth $ 1,050,024 with Texas Tech’s collective, the Matador Club. This agreement is believed to be the largest NIL contract ever for a softball player.
“It’s a game-changer for softball, and even beyond that,” said John Sellers, co-founder of the Matador Club. “She could have gone anywhere, but she’s coming to Tech.”
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
Over her two seasons at Stanford, Canady posted an impressive 0.67 earned run average and recorded 555 strikeouts across 365 innings.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have yet to reach the Women’s College World Series, but with Canady as their new star pitcher, they could potentially make the postseason for the first time in the program’s history.
Canady’s transfer represents another significant loss for the Cardinal. As NIL contracts become increasingly lucrative, Stanford’s collective, Lifetime Cardinal, will need to enhance its efforts to keep top talent on the team.
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