NiJaree Canady’s Million-Dollar Move: A Game-Changer for College Softball

NiJaree Canady’s Million-Dollar Move: A Game-Changer for College Softball

In the world of college sports, few stories have captured the imagination quite like that of NiJaree Canady. Last July, the softball world was rocked when Canady, the reigning USA Softball National Player of the Year, announced her transfer to Texas Tech. This wasn’t just any transfer; it was a seismic shift, marked by the richest softball NIL deal ever. Canady’s move from Stanford, where she had become a household name by leading the Cardinal to two consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances, was nothing short of groundbreaking.

For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Canady’s decision to leave Stanford, a school with a storied athletic tradition, for Texas Tech, a program that had never won a conference title and had a modest 49% win rate, was met with awe and intrigue. The Matador Club, Texas Tech’s NIL collective, made an unprecedented offer: a one-year, $1,050,024 contract, with a million dollars for Canady, $50,000 for living expenses, and $24 for her jersey number. This bold move was a testament to the Red Raiders’ commitment to elevating their softball program.

Just over a month after Gerry Glasco, the new Red Raiders coach, arrived in Lubbock, he managed to secure the most valuable player in the country. Glasco, who had been hired from Louisiana, pulled out all the stops, even enlisting the help of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to woo Canady, a devoted Chiefs fan from Kansas.

Glasco’s arrival in Lubbock was serendipitous. He found himself in what he believed was the best softball situation in America, thanks in large part to the support of the Matador Club’s biggest boosters, Tracy and John Sellers. The Sellers had been long-time supporters of Texas Tech athletics, donating $11 million to the athletic department in 2022, with $1 million earmarked for softball stadium upgrades.

Glasco was initially surprised by Canady’s agent’s asking price of $400,000, which he thought was low for a player of her caliber. “My message was: We’re talking about Bo Jackson. We’re talking about Herschel Walker,” Glasco told the Sellers. “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.”

Tracy Sellers saw the potential to make a statement at Texas Tech, a school where legends like Sheryl Swoopes had risen to stardom. After meeting Canady, Sellers was convinced that investing in her was a worthy cause. “She is a wonderful human being,” Sellers said. “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.”

Canady, aware of the spotlight her move would bring, hopes it paves the way for future female athletes to benefit from similar opportunities. “There are a lot of male athletes who get that and it’s not a headline anymore,” Canady said. “I hope that happens for women’s sports, too.”

The impact of Canady’s transfer was immediate and profound. This year, the Red Raiders clinched their first Big 12 regular-season and conference titles, with Canady leading the nation with a 0.81 ERA. She went 26-5, recording the second-most wins in a season in school history, and was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. On Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET, No. 12 seed Texas Tech (45-12) will host its first Lubbock Regional, facing Brown (33-15).

Tracy Sellers summed it up best: “She definitely put Texas Tech softball on the map.”

Canady’s Decision: More Than Just a Paycheck

Canady wants to set the record straight: her decision to join Texas Tech wasn’t solely about the money. “I feel like people thought I heard the number and just came to Texas Tech, which wasn’t the case at all,” she explained. “If I didn’t feel like Coach Glasco was an amazing coach and could lead this program to be where we thought it could be, I wouldn’t have come.”

Glasco, a successful coach with a track record of winning conference titles, had to act quickly to secure Canady’s commitment. He had a secret weapon: his friendship with Jim Huecker, Canady’s longtime coach. Glasco knew that Canady missed hitting as much as she loved pitching, and he made hitting a central part of his pitch to her.

Canady, a multisport star from Topeka, Kansas, had excelled in basketball and tackle football against boys. In high school, she led her girls’ basketball team to the Kansas 6A state finals and was a two-time Kansas Softball Gatorade Player of the Year. At Stanford, she had limited opportunities to hit, and she was eager to return to being an all-around athlete.

Glasco’s presentation, complete with handwritten stat sheets and charts, resonated with Canady. “That’s my lineup,” Glasco said, holding up the same poster he used to pitch Canady. “If you look, I’ve got ’em all and I’m promising her how many runs I’m going to score.”

During her visit to Lubbock, Canady spent more time discussing hitting with Glasco than she did with pitching coach Tara Archibald. “I think I talked to Coach Tara maybe 20-30 minutes about pitching and then the rest of the time was just Coach Glasco talking about hitting,” Canady said.

Despite dealing with a soft-tissue injury in March, Canady has had 81 at-bats this year, batting .309 with five doubles and eight homers. She leads the team with a .457 on-base percentage, thanks to her 13 walks and being hit by a pitch 10 times. “I’m definitely trying to hit the ball out,” Canady said. “And that’s Coach Glasco’s motto, too. He loves the long ball.”

Adjusting to Life in Lubbock

For Canady, the transition from Palo Alto to Lubbock wasn’t a culture shock. “Lubbock reminds me more of home,” she said. The major difference has been the sports-centric atmosphere in Texas. “I think that was the biggest shock to me, just about how much sports matter here in Texas,” she said.

Canady has embraced the local traditions, even participating in the tortilla-throwing ritual at Tech football games. “There’s a whole science behind getting it far,” she said. “You have to put a hole in the center. There’s a certain way to throw it.”

Her star power has attracted attention from all corners, including Patrick Mahomes, who made a personal recruiting pitch. Canady was thrilled when Mahomes interrupted his vacation in Italy to call her. “I’m not going to say any names, but another program had a very important person call me and there was no caller ID, so I couldn’t call him back or anything,” Canady said. “But Patrick Mahomes, I have his number, I can reach out to him.”

Canady’s presence at Texas Tech is expected to draw more players to the program. Glasco is confident that with Canady leading the way, the Red Raiders can contend for a national championship. “I’ve never coached anybody close to her,” he said. “I’ve never coached this kind of pitcher in college.”

For Canady, the move to Texas Tech is about more than just softball. Her dream is to coach kids and open her own facility, and the financial support from the Sellers will help her achieve that goal. “She wants to teach little girls to hit,” Glasco said. “She loves little kids. You can see it when she signs autographs.”

Tracy Sellers is proud to support Canady’s journey. “Why would you not want people you love to succeed? And so same with NiJa. I would go into business any day with her,” Tracy said. “She’s a celebrity in Lubbock, Texas. It’s not just about money. I really hope that story gets out about her.”