Texas Tech lands National Softball Player of the Year in unprecedented, seven-figure NIL deal

When it comes to NIL deals, Texas Tech has rewritten the book in landing softball superstar NiJaree Canady, the reigning National Player of the Year.

According to ESPN , Texas Tech lured Canady away from Stanford with an NIL deal worth up to $1 million per year.

From ESPN: “Her NIL agreement with Texas Tech will reach seven figures annually, a source told ESPN. It's an unprecedented deal for a college softball player made possible by Texas Tech boosters John and Tracy Sellers.”

Canady has been the dominant pitcher in college softball the last two seasons, leading Stanford to back-to-back appearance in the Women’s College World Series. Canady, a Topeka, Kansas, native, was the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year in 2024, a two-time All-Pac-12 pick, two-time WCWS All-Tournament Team selection and the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year in 2024.

Over the last two seasons, Canady had a 0.67 ERA with 555 strikeouts in 365⅔ innings.