Much ink has been spilled on social media this summer about tampering in college softball. But after completing another all-time great season where she was, without argument, the best pitcher in the game, Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady said she didn’t hear from any other programs trying to convince her to jump ship from the Red Raiders. Agents, folks from collectives or other coaches weren’t sliding into her DMs, she says.
“Honestly, no. I think everyone knew that I love it here at Tech,” Canady recently told SB Nation. “No one was reaching out to me directly.”
A big reason why Canady is staying put in Lubbock, Texas is because she agreed to another NIL deal with the Matador Club, the Red Raiders’ collective, that will again pay her north of $1 million.
Canady now has a new way to spend that NIL money too. She’s now a brand ambassador for Venmo and promoting the company’s new partnership with the Big 12. Venmo has launched debit cards for teams in the Big 12, allowing students, alumni and fans of participating schools to unlock exclusive perks and enhanced rewards — like ticket giveaways and gameday upgrades — as well as up to 15 percent cash back when shopping with certain brands. In addition to Canady, TCU point guard Olivia Miles and Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt locked in NIL ambassador deals with Venmo too. Sign-ups for the cards begin in early September.
As one of the top players in college softball, Canady has been offered a lot of NIL opportunities. For her, partnering with Venmo was a no-brainer.
“I feel like a big thing for me is partnering with brands and companies who I already have a relationship with,” Canady says. “And I’ve used Venmo literally since high school — whether that’s eating with friends, or sending money and receiving money, things like that. So, it was already in my phone… I just felt like it was perfect. And then the Big 12 debit cards, I feel like that’s really cool too.”
She added: “I feel like Venmo is doing a really good job of empowering the Big 12 and female athletes.”
After Canady powered the Red Raiders to several first-ever milestones — a Big 12 title, an appearance in the College World Series, and a trip to the national title game — last season, Texas Tech continued to put its money where its mouth is and brought in a cavalry of talented reinforcements this summer. The additions included four of the top 10 players available in the transfer portal, including UCLA two-way standout Kaitlyn Terry, Tennessee third baseman Taylor Pannell, Ohio State catcher Jazzy Burns, and Florida second baseman Mia Williams.
Canady will also get the chance to reunite with former travel ball teammate Jackie Lis, who comes to Texas Tech after being one of the best players in the Missouri Valley Conference at Southern Illinois. Canady also knows Terry well from their old battles in the Pac-12 and at USA Softball training camps.
With this roster, Texas Tech might enter the 2026 softball season as the favorite to win the national title. Canady is eager to play with her new teammates and isn’t shying away from the big expectations.
“I mean, it would be exciting if that happened, but honestly, I feel like rankings don’t even matter. Like, we were the 12th seed going into the World Series,” Canady says. “We’re just going to take it each game at a time and, again, I don’t think rankings matter. The game doesn’t know who’s supposed to win.”
Aside from her seven-figure NIL deal with the Matador Club, Texas Tech’s investment in softball reinforced Canady’s feelings that Lubbock is the right place for her as she enters her senior season. Few programs across the country have spent on softball the way that Texas Tech has over the past two seasons.
And no other softball program in the country can say it has Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as a loyal fan.
“I feel like we’re really blessed here at Texas Tech with the alumni who come forward and the support we have. You hear about a lot of other schools, and a lot of resources just go towards football and men’s basketball — which, rightfully so. But at Texas Tech, I feel like they really respect female athletes too and the work we put in,” Canady says. “I feel like, in a way, Texas Tech is a school that’s kind of leading the charge with not only NIL, but specifically with female athletes.”
Canady also applauded Texas Tech and her management team for dealing with some of the new hurdles with NIL brought on by the House Settlement, like the NIL Go clearinghouse that’s operated by Deloitte. Any NIL deal with a value of more than $600 has to pass through the online portal, including Canady’s latest agreement with Venmo.
“I’ve started dealing with it just a little bit,” Canady says. “I’m confident in my team, and I’m confident with Texas Tech. I’m not worried about the future, and I feel like Texas Tech is going to always take care of its student athletes.”
In many ways, Canady is a trailblazer in college softball, pushing the sport into the NIL era with two hands when she left Stanford for a deal with the Red Raiders that made her the sport’s first million-dollar player. And with that money, increased attention has come with it.
“I never knew it would get this big, honestly. This has always been a dream of mine, to help empower the next generation of athletes… It’s definitely hard at times. I feel like it does put a new standard on you. I just try to rely on God a lot. He’s blessed me in so many ways,” Canady says. “I feel like it took me a while to grasp this part of it too… It does bring pressure, but also, someone felt like I was worth it.”
In her first season for the Red Raiders, Canady more than lived up to the hype. She was named Pitcher of the Year by the Big 12, the NFCA and D1Softball.com. She was a finalist for the USA Softball National Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.
Canady ranked second nationally in ERA (1.11), third in hits allowed per seven innings (3.88), seventh in shutouts (7), third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.93), 10th in strikeouts per seven innings (9.3), second in total strikeouts (319), and first in wins with a 34-7 record.
And she accomplished all of that while dealing with a left hamstring injury from February through the final game of the College World Series, where the Red Raiders fell to the Texas Longhorns.
“I’m feeling good now. I feel like every athlete is going through a little injury, especially at the end of the year,” Canady says. “I’m just blessed that I was still able to play.”
Canady also flashed her versatility this season and shined in moments as an offensive player, hitting 11 home runs and notching 34 RBIs. A pitcher of Canady’s caliber also being that admirable at the plate might be a surprise to some, but Canady is a naturally gifted all-around athlete.
At Topeka High School in her native Kansas, she was also a four-star prospect in basketball who had her own recruiting profile on ESPN. Tabbed as a 6-foot forward, the folks at ESPN wrote that Canady was a “physical front court performer (who) displays nimble footwork (and a) soft touch in the paint.” She was also given high marks for her ability to score against contact. Canady says that, like she is on the diamond, she was an “emotional” basketball player.
NCAA rules allow athletes who have exhausted their eligibility in one sport to play another for one year while pursuing a postgraduate degree. Canady has given some consideration to a return to the hardwood, but she’s balancing that desire with future ambitions in softball.
“I’ve thought about (basketball) a little bit,” Canady says. “But also, one of my big goals is (playing softball in the) 2028 Olympics. I’ll definitely have to train for that. But, nothing is off the table, I’ll say.”
