Texas Tech superstar pitcher NiJaree Canady has the Red Raiders one game away from a national championship, and it appears she'll be running it back for the 2026 season. Canady, who already became the first $1 million softball player last offseason when she signed a lucrative NIL deal to transfer from Stanford to Texas Tech,

Texas Tech star softball pitcher NiJaree Canady will make $1.2 million in a name, image and likeness deal to play for the school in 2026 after leading the team to the Women's College World Series.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that the ace pitcher had signed a "seven-figure NIL deal" to keep her with the program past the 2025 season. The junior right-hander had transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford ahead of the 2025 season and became the first softball player to secure a NIL deal in excess of $1 million.