NaJaree Canady's $1M NIL Deal Pays Off As Red Raiders Eye WCWS Title
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.
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