Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady inks another monster NIL deal

Texas Tech superstar NiJaree Canady made headlines last year when she became the first $1 million softball player. Well, she’s now done it again.

Canady has signed another seven-figure NIL contract with the Texas Tech-focused NIL collective, The Matador Club, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed. She will make at least $1.2 million in her Year 2 deal.

The news comes as Texas Tech is currently embroiled in the Women’s College World Series Final with Texas. The Red Raiders dropped the opening game 2-1, but bounced back on Thursday night and evened the series with a 4-3 win.

Texas Tech softball pitcher NiJaree Canady will make at least $1.2 million in her Year 2 deal with the NIL collective The Matador Club, a source tells @On3sports.

Her 0.97 ERA this season leads the nation. She's also recorded 317 strikeouts.https://t.co/8XlfrMnjxZ pic.twitter.com/BVdrS8Ftmw

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) June 6, 2025

Canady has made a major impact on both games, as she has pitched all 13 innings for her team. In the opener, the Topeka, KS native held the Longhorns to just four hits and two earned runs with seven strikeouts in six innings. After being tabbed with the loss, she came out the next night and was even better.

In Texas Tech‘s 4-3 win on Thursday night, Canady held Texas to six hits and two earned runs with six strikeouts. She struck out Longhorn center fielder Kayden Henry on three pitches to finish off the win.

“You wait for these once-in-a-generation athletes to bring us right to the brink and we’ve had them, but for some reason it hasn’t been player,” ESPN’s Jessica Mendoza said on the broadcast Thursday night. “You can have all kinds of theories about what it’s going to take to bring people to our sport, what will get them excited, get their attention. Right now, I’m watching all these men’s sports shows and they’re talking about softball. This is exactly what we’ve wanted. I’ve been waiting for this.”

After being named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year in 2024 at Stanford, Canady entered the transfer portal and ended up at Texas Tech. She’s pitched a whopping 239 innings this season, where she’s held opposing batters to a .156 batting average. She boasts a 0.97 ERA with 317 strikeouts, recording one of the greatest seasons in college softball history.

Prior to NiJaree Canady’s arrival at Texas Tech this season, the Red Raiders had made the NCAA Tournament just six times in their history. They had never even advanced past a Regional. Now, with Canady at the helm, the program is just one win away from its first ever National Championship.

It’s safe to say that the amount of money that she is making, which is precisely $1,050,024 (as repeatedly said on the ESPN broadcast) this season, is worth every penny for Texas Tech.