Last July, pitcher NiJaree Canady shook college sports when she announced her transfer to Texas Tech and landed the richest softball NIL deal ever. The reigning USA Softball National Player of the Year bolted from the hallowed halls of Stanford,

Texas Tech softball has taken a huge step in 2025, thanks to key contributions from pitcher NiJaree Canady. The pitcher has dominated throughout the campaign, posting a 0.89 ERA to lead the Red Raiders to their first Women’s College World Series appearance. Before Texas Tech takes the big stage, here are five things to know about Canady:

Texas Tech softball coach Gerry Glasco compared NiJaree Canady's mentality to Michael Jordan after her latest WCWS dominance. Here’s why.