When Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady hit the transfer portal after leading the Cardinal to consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances, the entire softball world held its collective breath.
Regardless of who landed the two-time All-American out of Topeka, Kansas, it was clear that someone was going to get one of the few players in the country who could make a team an instant contender, and it appears the folks in Lubbock, Texas, have won the softball lottery.
On Wednesday, Canady announced that she will play for Gerry Glasco and the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2025.
After putting back-to-back campaigns together in Palo Alto, Canady has proven to be the most dominant pitcher in the entire country, and her addition to the staff in Lubbock makes Texas Tech an instant contender for a Big 12 title in 2025 and beyond. Canady, the reigning USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, led the nation in ERA (0.73) and strikeouts (337) as a sophomore last season and has two years of eligibility remaining.
With Texas Tech’s ability to put together the best NIL opportunity for Canady, the Red Raiders beat out programs like Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, and Florida State for the nation’s top player.
The deal, reportedly worth $1,050,024 (per The Athletic), is unprecedented in college softball and will very likely reset the market for what it looks like to land the elite of the elite players in collegiate athletics.
Now, with Canady the crown jewel of a 2024 transfer portal cycle, Texas Tech can begin working toward making the program’s first WCWS appearance in program history and the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.
