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6-foot pitching prodigy NiJaree Canady has recently signed the highest-ever NIL deal for a softball player. After entering the transfer portal on June 17, 2024, many teams across the nation were bidding to recruit the former Stanford University Cardinal pitcher.
On July 24, 2024, Canady took to X to announce her decision to become a Texas Tech University Red Raider, posting, “These past two years have been amazing, and I thank @StanfordSball for the ride of a lifetime. Excited for what’s ahead! @TexasTechSB.”
College sports changed in 2021 with the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. NIL contracts empower student-athletes to profit from promoting companies as they build their careers.
Shortly after the Topeka, Kansas, native made her announcement, Matador Club, a Texas Tech-affiliated name, image, and likeness collective, also posted on X, welcoming Canady to Lubbock.
The NiJaree Canady NIL deal could help create pay parity for future female student-athletes.
The Athletic reports that the contract is for one year and $1,050,024, stating, “The $24 is for Canady’s jersey number. The $50,000 is for living expenses. And the $1 million is for Canady.” According to The Athletic, before this deal, the highest NIL deal for a softball pitcher was $175,000.
Standford did attempt to make a competitive proposal. ESPN reports that Standford made a six-figure offer that would have made her the highest-paid women’s athlete in school history.
“I could never have imagined this. But I feel like we need to invest in women’s sports,” NiJaree Canady told ESPN. “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.”
“It’s a game-changer for softball and even beyond that. She could have gone anywhere, but she’s coming to Tech,” co-founder of the Matador Club, John Sellers, shared with Sports Illustrated.
Canady’s brilliance could break records and drive wins.
In just two years, the sophomore has been credited with leading the Cardinal to consecutive appearances in the Women’s College World Series in 2023 and 2024. The last time the Cardinal was in the series was in 2004. She’s also been named the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year.
In her two seasons with the Cardinal, NiJaree Canady marked a career 0.67 ERA (earned run average) with 555 strikeouts in 365 innings.
Canady throws her rise ball pitch at 75 miles per hour. The Guinness World Record for the fastest softball pitch is 77 miles per hour, held by Monica Abbott, who is now an ESPN analyst. “NiJa is already throwing as fast as I was as a pro,” said Abbott. “Her limit does not exist. I think she could potentially reach 80 (mph).”
The NiJaree Canady NIL deal puts her on a stage to represent women student-athletes and Black female athletes. With business behind her, this skilled young woman is focused on excelling with the Red Raiders, “My goal every year is to win the Women’s College World Series, so that’s my goal right now,” Canady said.
Yes, this athlete has signed a lucrative name, image, and likeness contract.
It is due to her record.
However, she transferred to the powerful South East Conference (SEC). It adds credibility to her career.
She left the PAC conference which may, in one year, become extinct.
The SEC is the richest and has heavyweights like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, the Carolinas, Arkansas, and Kentucky.
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