NiJaree Canady will not be coming back to Stanford. The 2024 USA Softball Player of the Year, who was anticipated to get NIL offers of $1 million annually, has announced her commitment to Texas Tech on social media. Stanford’s collective, Lifetime Cardinal, tried to retain the right-handed pitcher, which would have been a significant achievement for a school struggling with NIL negotiations. ESPN also reported that Canady was set to receive a groundbreaking endorsement deal worth seven figures per year.
As a sophomore, she recorded 337 strikeouts in 230⅔ innings with an ERA of 0.73, leading Stanford to its second straight Women’s College World Series. She entered the transfer portal on June 17, the final deadline for doing so.
