SoonerScoop video: Trying to guess the NiJaree Canady timeline?
It has been a week since star Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady hit the transfer portal. And, well, we’re no closer to a decision than it felt like Monday.
But? To be expected. At least that’s the logic of D1 Softball associate editor Justin McLeod. Don’t expect a decision from Canady just yet.
It’s going to take some time. And she has earned that right to take her time and take as many visits as she wants to figure it all out.
McLeod joined the SoonerScoop Stickball crew to talk all things OU softball. And you can’t talk OU softball right now without mentioning the Canady pursuit.
Canady was 24-7 this season with a 0.73 ERA and five saves. She threw a whopping 230.2 innings, allowing 116 hits, 24 earned runs with a ridiculous 337 strikeouts. Included in that were 24 complete games and nine shutouts.
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A native of Topeka, Kan., Canady would have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Canady has been the catalyst toward Stanford reaching the Women’s College World Series semifinals in back-to-back seasons.
Canady was the National Freshman of the Year in 2023, and the National Player of the Year in 2024.
McLeod also gave his insight on…
*What Love’s Field means to OU and the sport of softball
*OU needs more than just Canady, other names to watch
*Other schools to watch for Canady, a lot of SEC flavor
*Reflecting on the four-peat, and why this one stands out, perhaps, the most
All that and a whole lot more with McLeod on this week’s edition of Stickball from SoonerScoop.
Who’s leaving? Who’s returning?
We’ve said it repeatedly, but again, 2025 is going to be incredibly different. There are so many names OU fans and softball fans have been accustomed to hearing that are gone.
That senior class went 235-15 with the four national championships.
“This generation, they’ve taught me a lot about coaching,” Gasso said. “They taught me how to accept who they are and how it looks. I mean, I think that has a lot to do with a lot of things, that I just allowed them to be them. It’s hard sometimes because some of it I’m like, oh, no. But it’s important to them. They’ve taught me how to coach better.”
OU lost 10 seniors. Then add another three in the portal (Avery Hodge, Quincee Lilio, SJ Geurin). Hodge is going to LSU. Geurin picked Auburn. OU has eight players coming back and is adding eight freshmen. The Sooners got on the board with former UNC catcher Isabela Emerling. Based on the usual OU numbers, you can assume around four spots remain.
Let the fun continue.
