NiJaree Canady’s $1 Million Arm Slays Softball Favorite Oklahoma

In softball, there is no greater Goliath than Oklahoma. 

The Sooners were in pursuit of their fifth consecutive NCAA championship this season on Monday night in the Women’s College World Series semifinals in Oklahoma City when they met their David. 

Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 3-2 after Lauren Allred’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh secured a walk-off win and the first Red Raiders trip to the WCWS Finals. 

The steps Texas Tech took to get this far started with the signing of starting pitcher NiJaree Canady last July. 

Canady transferred to Texas Tech after two seasons at Stanford. She made waves when she secured the richest NIL deal in the history of the sport, signing for $1,050,024—according to a report from ESPN—courtesy of the school’s NIL collective Matador Club. 

The two-time NFCA Pitcher of the Year had only allowed one earned run during the entire WCWS before giving up a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to Oklahoma’s Abby Dayton. Canady gave up five hits, walked one batter, and struck out eight in Monday night’s game. 

Canady accumulated 300 strikeouts on the season with her fourth of the night against Oklahoma. 

Earlier in the day, Texas defeated Tennessee 2-0 to punch its ticket to the Finals. This is the Longhorns’ third time making it to the championship series in the last four years. They lost to Oklahoma in 2022 and 2024. 

When Texas Tech and Texas meet to start their series on June 4, it’ll be the first in-state championship series in the history of the WCWS.