She’s rewriting what’s possible for women in sports!
When NiJaree Canady stepped away from Stanford University last summer, she didn’t just transfer schools, she changed the game. The reigning USA Softball National Player of the Year, known for leading Stanford to back-to-back Women’s College World Series appearances, made headlines when she announced her move to Texas Tech, ESPN reports. But what truly shook the foundation of college athletics was the historic NIL deal that followed for Canady, one set to the tune of $1,050,024. That number wasn’t just a contract, it was a declaration.
The deal, offered by Texas Tech’s Matador Club, made Canady the first million-dollar athlete in college softball history. It included a symbolic nod to her jersey, $1 million for her name, $50,000 for living expenses, and $24 to represent the number she wears on her back. In a sport where women have long been overlooked, Canady became a lightning rod for change.
Still, her decision wasn’t made lightly. “I feel like people thought I heard the number and just came to Texas Tech, which wasn’t the case at all,” Canady said. “If I didn’t feel like Coach Glasco was an amazing coach and could lead this program to be where we thought it could be, I wouldn’t have come.”
Coach Gerry Glasco knew what was at stake. Just days after taking the job at Tech, he made Canady his top priority. He poured over charts, handwritten lineups, and made promises not just about the mound, but about the plate. Because while the world saw Canady as the nation’s top pitcher, Glasco saw something more: a full-fledged athlete who missed hitting, who could carry a team on her arm and her bat.
The pitch worked. It didn’t hurt that Patrick Mahomes — yes, that Patrick Mahomes — called Canady personally to convince her to join the Red Raiders. “Patrick Mahomes, I have his number, I can reach out to him. So I think that’s cool,” she said. That kind of hometown star power, paired with Glasco’s passion and a family of supporters ready to invest in women’s sports, created the perfect storm.
And Canady has delivered. This season, she led the nation with a jaw-dropping 0.81 ERA and was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. She went 26-5, helping Texas Tech secure their first-ever Big 12 regular-season and conference titles. The Red Raiders are now hosting their first NCAA regional, with Canady at the center of it all.
“She definitely put Texas Tech softball on the map,” said Tracy Sellers, one of the program’s longtime supporters who helped fund the deal. After meeting Canady, she knew this was bigger than just softball. “She is a wonderful human being… I left that meeting and thought, this is who I would love to put a lot of effort into because of who she is.”
For Canady, who grew up in Topeka, Kansas, dominating in everything from basketball to tackle football, Lubbock felt like home. “Lubbock reminds me more of home,” she said. “I think that was the biggest shock to me, just about how much sports matter here in Texas.”
Even off the field, she’s embracing the culture, learning the science behind tossing tortillas at Tech football games and making time to sign autographs for the next generation of athletes. Her dreams don’t stop at championships. She wants to open her own facility and teach girls to pitch, to hit, and to dream without limits.
“I hope someone tomorrow comes in and builds it even more,” Canady said. “There are a lot of male athletes who get that and it’s not a headline anymore. I hope that happens for women’s sports, too.”
With her million-dollar deal, her powerhouse performance, and her heart for the game, NiJaree Canady isn’t just making headlines, she’s opening doors. For girls who pitch, who swing for the fences, and who dare to believe that their talent is worth just as much as anyone else’s.
Thanks to NiJaree Canady, the future of women’s sports just got a whole lot brighter.