ONE of the biggest deals ever in women’s softball has been completed, with pitcher NiJaree Canady joining the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a move worth $1.2 million.
Texas Tech, where NFL star Patrick Mahomes played college football, has made a deal that is being described as a “game changer.”
The deal was signed with Texas Tech’s NIL Matador Club collective, and co-founder John Sellers praised the move.
“It’s a game changer for softball,” he said.
“Plus, she (Canady) could have gone anywhere, but she’s coming to tech.”
Canady is obviously an excellent prospect for the future.
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She has a career record of 41-10 with a 0.67 ERA and 555 SO in 365.2 innings, leading Stanford to consecutive appearances in the Women’s College World Series.
Canady revealed he also traveled to Tennessee, Alabama, UCLA and Kansas last month
In the end, she says it was the opportunity to work with first-year coach Gerry Glasco that influenced her decision.
“I think the biggest thing that caught my attention was how many players started following him in the days and weeks that followed. [Glasco arrived at Texas Tech],” Canady told ESPN.
“Some kids even chose to go no contact when they accessed the portal because they knew they wanted to follow him wherever he went.
“I think that speaks really well of him as a coach.”
This could spark a new era of big-money moves in the sport.
Canady also pointed to potential opportunities at Texas Tech through a recently announced deal between the school, Adidas and Mahomes.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Mahomes was also a pitcher for the Texas Tech baseball team during his time in college.
But football has become his main focus in a remarkable professional career thus far.
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories in the last five seasons.
It’s a game changer for softball
John Vendedores
Now it’s the softball team that’s making headlines, with Canady hoping it becomes part of the broader narrative of growing interest in women’s sports.
“I never could have imagined this,” Canady said. “But I feel we need to invest in women’s sport.
“We saw it in women’s basketball this year – you invest in women’s sports and women’s basketball just exploded onto the national scene.
“I think the same thing happened with softball.
“If I do even a small part of that, that’s my whole dream.”
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