NaJaree Canady's $1M NIL Deal Pays Off As Red Raiders Eye WCWS Title
Texas Tech pitcher NaJaree Canady celebrates on the mound. The Red Raiders defeated No. 2 overall ... More NCAA seed Oklahoma to head to the championship series against Texas starting Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
When news came out in the summer of 2024 that Stanford ace NaJaree Canady was transferring, the softball world was shocked. The now junior ace has accumulated unheard of statistics as well as numerous awards during her short time in college softball including 2025 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Big 12 Selection and a Top 3 Finalist for the Honda Sport Award for Softball.
Now softball's biggest name is taking her new team Texas Tech to the Women's College World Series championship series for the first time in program history. For Texas Tech, they made history not only with their journey to the championship series, but also the investment to make it happen.
The Red Raiders awarded Canady a $1,050,024 NIL deal for this season. The deal included $1 million in NIL money, $50,000 for living expenses, and $24 to represent her collegiate number. No softball athlete has ever reached a number this high.
Texas Tech starting pitcher/relief pitcher NiJaree Canady (24) during an NCAA softball Women's ... More College World Series game against Mississippi, Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
To say that Canady was worth the figure would be an understatement. Canady is a dual threat as she not only is the ace in the circle for the Red Raiders, but also one of their most lethal hitters.
Head coach Gerry Glasco was well aware of Canady's talent when he met with her and talked about her joining him at Texas Tech in his first season with the Red Raiders. He said, '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 [at the time].' He continued, 'We look at it as they deserve it just as much (as male athletes). She worked so hard to be the No. 1 pitcher in the country. ... I left that meeting and thought, this is who I would love to put a lot of effort into because of who she is.'
Head coach Gerry Glasco and NaJaree Canady (24) celebrate after one of her home runs this season.
This season, Canady is batting .297 with a slugging percentage of .638 and an on-base percentage of 1.121. Additionally, Canady has recorded 34 RBIs, 30 hits, six doubles, and 11 home runs in her 101 at bats.
On the mound, Canady is a machine with a posted 0.90 earned run average, conceded only 29 earned runs, 118 his, 44 walks, and 304 strikeouts in 226 innings. Her ERA is ranked first in the nation for Division I , seventh in shutouts, third in total strikeouts and strikeout to walk ratio, and ninth in strikeouts per seven innings.
As the Red Raiders begin their championship series play on Wednesday, June 4 at 8 pm EST on ESPN the team will count on Canady's star power to shine through and bring home the program's first ever title.
Follow me on X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
an hour ago
- News24
Joshua Jackson in custody battle with his ex-wife over daughter's schooling
The ink has barely dried on Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith's divorce papers, and already the exes are locked in a bitter legal dispute over their shared parenting arrangement. The Doctor Odyssey star has filed an emergency custody review, claiming his ex-wife enrolled their five-year-old daughter, Juno, in a new school without his consent. In the documents, obtained by People magazine, Joshua (46) alleges that Jodie (38) believes, 'it's no big deal to force Juno to start over with a new school'. He also complains that the new school is 45 minutes away from his home, making regular drop-offs and pick-ups nearly impossible for him. However, Joshua's concern goes beyond the school change itself. 'Jodie is attempting to create a scenario where Juno travels with her rather than attending a traditional school,' he claims. The Dawson's Creek star wants the court to order that their daughter remains in her current school in Calabasas, in Los Angeles, for the upcoming academic year. He also wants it stipulated that both parents must agree before any future school changes can be made. View this post on Instagram A post shared by THE AGENCY: CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (@theagency_sho) Joshua and Jodie met at a 2018 party hosted by R&B singer Usher. They married in secret a year later before welcoming Juno in April 2020. In October 2023, the British model and actress filed for divorce on the grounds of 'irreconcilable differences'. Joshua recently told USA Today that he believes Jodie is attempting to change their daughter's schooling so there is more flexibility for Juno to accompany her when she needs to travel for work. READ MORE| 'I don't think of it as a failure' – Jodie Turner-Smith on divorcing Joshua Jackson He says he thinks maintaining educational stability is important for their daughter's well-being during her formative years – something he didn't experience as a child actor. 'I started acting at a young age. I have spent a lot of time with on-set or on-location tutors,' he said. 'Even in the best case, it cannot begin to provide a child with the same nurturing and enrichment, peer relationships and social skills that a classroom and school community environment provides.' He added that Juno has already endured a lot of changes, from their divorce to her home burning down during the LA wildfires in January, so she doesn't need any more turmoil. 'Unnecessary school change cannot be in her interests.' Jodie is yet to speak publicly on the matter. Despite their legal woes, it seems they're both moving on with their lives. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joshua Jackson (@vancityjax) Jodie currently stars in The Agency as Dr Sami Zahir, an academic who becomes romantically involved with an undercover CIA agent. Describing her role she says, 'I love playing a dark-skinned Sudanese woman speaking Arabic on this show. I believe it's one of the most beautiful languages on this planet and I hope that Arabic-speaking people feel represented.' She is also set to be filming in London throughout next year. Meanwhile, Joshua is gearing up to return to his home in LA, which had to be rebuilt after being destroyed in the wildfires.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
2 Recession-Proof Stocks to Buy and Hold
Even amid an uncertain economic environment, reliable companies can be found. Zoetis helps people care for pets, which many consider as honorary family members. HCA Healthcare offers services in high demand, regardless of economic conditions. 10 stocks we like better than Zoetis › President Trump's trade policies are sparking concerns about a potential recession. Though it's hard to predict an upcoming economic downturn, it's never a bad idea for investors to buy shares of companies that can perform relatively well even in bad times. These corporations often have robust underlying businesses built to deliver consistent results and superior returns over the long run. Here are two great examples for investors to consider: Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS) and HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA). Zoetis, a leading animal health company, has faced some challenges over the past year. The company's recent financial results weren't great, and it is dealing with increased competition for some of its growth drivers, including Apoquel, a medicine to treat allergic itch in dogs. However, as Zoetis points out, there is significant whitespace in this niche. It estimates that 13 million dogs are eligible for the medicine but aren't on any prescription, and another 7 million are undertreated. The company currently treats 12 million dogs with Apoquel and Cytopoint, a similar medicine. Although Zoetis markets products for livestock, poultry, and other animals, the company's work with pets, particularly cats and dogs, is one of the primary reasons it can survive a recession relatively unscathed. People view their pets as family members and are more than willing to pay a significant amount to ensure they are well cared for. The increased humanization of pets should also be a significant long-term growth driver for Zoetis, a trend that is particularly prevalent among younger generations, who are less likely to have children than older ones. It might be pushing it to say that pets are the new kids, but it's not too far from the truth for many pet owners. The rest of Zoetis' business grants it significant diversity. The animal health leader generally grows its revenue at rates faster than the industry average, something it has been able to do for a while, despite competition, through the continuous development of newer medicines. Two of its more recent important approvals, Solensia and Librela that treat osteoarthritis pain in cats and dogs, respectively, are becoming key growth drivers, too. So, despite being slightly in the red over the trailing-12-month period, Zoetis is well-equipped to handle a recession if one is coming, while delivering strong returns in the long run. Lastly, the stock is also an excellent pick for income seekers despite its unimpressive forward yield of 1.2%. Zoetis has increased its payouts by 502% in the past decade. Whether it's for dividends or growth, the healthcare specialist is a great option. HCA Healthcare's business remains in high demand even in recessions. The company is a leading hospital chain in the U.S., and even during economic downturns, people still require critical medical care. True, some procedures performed in the company's facilities are optional. Even for those that aren't, patients may sometimes postpone them when things get tough. So, there will be an impact on the company's results, but it should be fairly minimal. Over the past year, the company has faced another source of headwinds. Various natural disasters, including hurricanes, impacted its financial results in some areas, resulting in lower revenue than anticipated. Still, HCA Healthcare continues to deliver decent updates. In the first quarter, the company's revenue increased by a modest 5.7% year over year to $18.3 billion. Its earnings per share came in at $6.45, up 8.8% compared to the year-ago period. Despite this headwind, HCA Healthcare's long-term prospects are attractive. An aging population that will require more medical care should lead to increased spending on precisely the kinds of services it offers. HCA Healthcare has also deepened its relationships with physicians, patients, and third-party payers over time, partly through the adoption of more services. It would be challenging for any newcomer to seriously challenge HCA Healthcare, considering the ecosystem it has already built, which arguably grants it a network effect. Although there is competition, HCA Healthcare has generally increased its market share over the past decade. The stock should continue delivering superior returns long after the next recession hits, whenever that happens. Before you buy stock in Zoetis, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Zoetis wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $668,538!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $869,841!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 789% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Zoetis. The Motley Fool recommends HCA Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Recession-Proof Stocks to Buy and Hold was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Charles Woodson Jr. talks new Michigan offer, legendary father's input
The New Year has been very good to Charles Woodson Jr. The Orlando (Fla.) Lake Nona High School defensive back has not only added his first scholarship offers, but has seen bigger and bigger programs jump in on the hot streak. Advertisement It hit another level on Wednesday night when Michigan came calling. The son of the former UM Heisman Trophy winner and NFL legend of the same name, Jr. also got to experience the news with his father simultaneously. "The secondary coach (LaMar Morgan) called my head coach a week ago," Woodson Jr. said. "Then the head coach (Sherrone Moore) told me and my dad to call him. "We're pretty excited about it. I mean it's where my dad went so it's pretty special and it's a huge program so it means a lot." The rising-junior prep recruit has of course been to Ann Arbor in the past, where he was able to experience the legacy he now has an opportunity to continue. Advertisement A return trip is likely to materialize soon. "I'll find a date," Woodson Jr. said. "I went when I was in eighth grade and the place is real cool." CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info With the run of new tenders in for Woodson Jr., including Florida State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Syracuse and several others since January, it is very early in the recruiting process for the versatile defensive back. Advertisement Still, the college and NFL legend may have nudged a bit when his alma mater came calling. "You know my dad is excited for real," he said. The Woodsons learned of the offer news amid a trek through the Lone Star State. A&M hosted the No. 11 nickel projection for a workout and he "loved the hospitality" earlier in the week. Texas also had them on campus this week. Outside of LNHS workouts, the emerging recruit said he is unsure of additional college visit plans at this time. As a sophomore in 2024, Woodson Jr. notched an interception and multiple pass breakups for the Lions. He also registered 53 total tackles and recovered a fumble, per MaxPreps.
