NiJaree Canady, an American college softball pitcher for Texas Tech, secured the richest NIL deal in the history of the sport, signing a one-year, $1,050,024 contract.
Her Texas Tech team stopped Oklahoma to advance to the WCWS Finals for the first time in program history.
Highlights
- NiJaree Canady secured the richest NIL contract in college softball history, a $1,050,024 one-year deal with Texas Tech.
- She has partnerships with major brands like Adidas, and her net worth (estimated at $1M) is expected to skyrocket if she goes pro.
- Her dominance in the WCWS justified the million-dollar investment and boosted her long-term earning potential.
NiJaree Canady has quickly risen to become one of the most dominant pitchers in college softball. She excelled in basketball and softball at Topeka High School.
She shone truly on the softball field and led her team to its first-ever Class 6A state championship. Afterward, she was named the Kansas Softball Gatorade Player of the Year.
NiJaree was named Kansas Softball Gatorade Player of the Year for the second consecutive year after leading her team to a second straight Class 6A state championship.
On October 12, 2021, she announced her commitment to Stanford and became the first Stanford player with multiple no-hitters in a season since Teagan Gerhart had three in 2010.
Moreover, she helped lead Stanford to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2004 and was named a first-team all-Pac-12 honoree and All-Pac-12 freshman team selection.
On June 17, 2024, she entered the NCAA transfer portal and announced her transfer to Texas Tech.
I think the biggest thing that stuck out to me was just how many players started following him in the days and weeks after [Glasco arrived at Texas Tech].
NiJaree Canady
Some kids even chose no contact when they hit the portal because they knew they wanted to follow him wherever he went. I think that speaks highly of him as a coach.
NiJaree Canady’s Net Worth Is Estimated At $1 Million
NiJaree Canady is one of the most promising young talents in college softball, making waves as a standout pitcher for Texas Tech.
She has quickly become one of the top players in the NCAA, thanks to her impressive performances and dominant presence.
NiJaree’s fast rise in the sport has drawn comparisons to some of the best pitchers in softball history.
As a college athlete, she does not earn a salary directly from her sport due to NCAA regulations. However, NIL deals now allow athletes to monetize their fame.
Her growing popularity has helped her endorsement deals with brands related to sports apparel, equipment, and local businesses, including Adidas.
The Matador Club, Texas Tech’s NIL collective, made a historic play for her, offering a one-year, $1,050,024 contract. They paid a million for her, $50,000 for living expenses, and $24 for her jersey number.
Gerry Glasco mentioned that NiJaree’s agent was initially seeking $400,000, which he thought was low for her to leave Stanford.
My message was: We’re talking about Bo Jackson. We’re talking about Herschel Walker. We’re talking about a once-in-a-generation player that’s already made a name all over America. She’s a folk hero in our sport and she’s a sophomore.
Gerry Glasco
NiJaree anticipated that the news would bring attention, but she hopes it will also allow her followers to benefit.
However, she wants to make it clear that there’s more to the story than just a considerable deposit.
I feel like people thought I heard the number and just came to Texas Tech, which wasn’t the case at all. 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.
NiJaree Canady
Undoubtedly, her earnings would increase significantly if she entered the professional leagues.
As she continues to dominate in college softball and possibly transitions to professional play, her earnings and brand value are expected to rise significantly.
Texas Tech’s $1 million bet On NiJaree Canady Has Paid Off
The Oklahoma Sooners were on the hunt for their fifth consecutive NCAA softball championship Monday night in the Women’s College World Series semifinals.
However, Texas Tech defeated them.
Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 3-2 after Lauren Allred’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh sealed the win, sending them to their first-ever WCWS Finals.
The victory didn’t come by chance. It was the result of a bold investment that has paid off in a big way.
Texas made news last July, signing Stanford transfer NiJaree Canady, the two-time NFCA Pitcher of the Year.
The move was historic not just for her elite talent, but also for the unprecedented NIL deal she signed, a record-breaking $1,050,024.
At the time, it was a gamble. Now, it looks like a stroke of genius.
NiJaree has been nearly untouchable in the WCWS, allowing just one earned run before Monday night’s game.
Even when Oklahoma’s Abby Dayton launched a two-run homer in the seventh, she remained composed, finishing the game with five hits allowed, one walk, and eight strikeouts.
Her fourth strikeout of the night marked her 300th of the season.
Additional Information
- Nijaree Canady, the daughter of Bruce and Katherine Canady, was born on July 30, 2003, in Topeka, Kansas.
- She was named to the inaugural D1Softball All-American Freshman Team, Softball America Freshman of the Year, and NFCA National Freshman of the Year.
- She has won the Honda Sports Award for softball.
