NPOY NiJaree Canady signs record NIL deal with Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Texas Tech softball made national headlines this week after landing the nation's top softball player, junior transfer pitcher from Stanford NiJaree Canady. Canady's recruitment was highly followed, coming off a National Player of the Year season and back-to-back Women's College World Series trips with Stanford, and news of her commitment to the Red Raiders sent shockwaves through the sport.

ESPN softball analyst Amanda Scarborough posted in X, "Well this sure does change the landscape of the 2025 season," after Canady posted the announcement.

ESPN reported that Canady was offered a 7-figure name, image and likeness deal, the first of its kind in college softball.

Canady told ESPN, "I feel like we need to invest in women's sports. We saw it with women's basketball this year: You invest in women's sports and women's basketball just blew up on a national stage. I think the same thing has happened with softball... If I'm even a little part of that, that's my whole dream."

The signing was a major splash for first-year head coach Gerry Glasco, who was hired by the Red Raiders after a successful stint at Louisiana. He said money was only part of Canady's decision, but that he was admittedly surprised by the NIL offer.

"None of the NIL stuff involve...