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Former Stanford softball pitcher NiJaree Canady has committed to Texas Texas after signing a one-year NIL deal worth more than $1 million, according to The Athletic.
The Athletic reported that a source close to negotiations said the previous highest known NIL deal for a pitcher in the sport was $175,000.
Canady also turned down an offer from Stanford that would have made her the best-paid female athlete in school history, according to ESPN’s Eli Lederman.
The reigning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year confirmed her commitment Wednesday on X.
NiJaree Canady @CanadyNijaree
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
Canady’s deal with the Matador Club, a collective for Texas Tech athletes, is reportedly worth $1,050,024, according to The Athletic.
The pitcher earned the record-breaking deal after earning a 23-7 record in 41 appearances on the mound last season, leading the nation with 337 strikeouts and a 0.73 ERA in 230.2 innings pitched.
Through two seasons at Stanford Canady marked a career 0.68 ERA with 546 strikeouts in 348.2 innings pitched while leading the Cardinal to back-to-back appearances in the Women’s College World Series in 2023 and 2024.
Canady drew attention to the WCWS with the velocity of her pitching, which has clocked in around 75 miles per hour. That speed led former Olympic softball player Monica Abbott to say in May that Canady could become “the Caitlin Clark of softball” (h/t The Athletic’s Jayna Bardahl and Stewart Mandel.)
Now Canady, who heads to Texas Tech with two years of college eligibility remaining, will look to help the Red Raiders qualify for the WCWS for the first time in school history.
Her signing with Texas Tech marks the continuation of an influx of transfers since former Louisiana head coach Gerry Glasco took the helm of the program, including Sun Belt Conference player of the year Mihyia Davis.
