NiJaree Canady's last ride: Texas Tech's million-dollar ace has final shot at title

NiJaree Canady's last ride: Texas Tech's million-dollar ace has final shot at title

NiJaree Canady’s college softball career is nearly over.

When Texas Tech’s run in the NCAA Tournament ends — and Red Raider fans hope that’s with them lifting the national championship in Oklahoma City — Canady will not only be remembered as one of the sport’s greatest pitchers and a transformative player for Texas Tech, but also as a trailblazer in bringing money into softball. Through name, image and likeness earnings, Canady has been the sport’s highest paid player for the past two years, earning north of $1 million per season.

The investment has been worth it for Texas Tech. A year ago, Canady powered the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 championship and trip to the Women’s College World Series. Her list of accolades includes multiple pitcher and national player of the year awards from D1Softball.com, NFCA, Softball America, USA Softball, Big 12 and Pac-12.

Canady said she is finally feeling comfortable with being the face of softball NIL.

“It took a little bit to get there too, but now that it’s my senior year, I think that's kind of a role I've started to accept,” Canady told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s definitely been a whirlwind — I feel like that's the best way to describe it. There’s a lot of positives, but I feel like it’s something you have to adjust to.

“It's an amazing time in college athletics, specifically for female athletes. Women’s sports are exploding, so that’s fun to be a part of.”

Ahead of the NCAA Tournament bracket reveal Sunday (7 p.m., ESPN), Texas Tech is widely considered to be a contender for the World Series in Oklahoma City. Canady is spreading the word about her ongoing NIL partnerships with Venmo and how it’s helped her handle all the dollars she’s earned.

“I feel like all college athletes are managing larger lines of money, which is amazing, but there's also responsibility that comes with that,” Canady said. “So, that’s why I like Venmo so much, because I’m already familiar with it and it just makes things so much easier than a traditional credit card. You’re still earning cash back — and when I was in high school I wasn’t really thinking about that — it’s just through an app that you’re more familiar with. The Venmo debit card makes it easier.

“I’m learning how to manage money better before getting into the professional space.”

The professional ranks are just around the corner for Canady. Last week, she was selected second overall in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League draft by the Texas Talons.

ESPN platforms will broadcast more than 50 AUSL games this season, CBS Sports Network will air 20 and MLB Network will carry 11. It’s the first season in which the fledgling softball league will have teams based in cities, rather than touring around the country.

While softball fans across the country will be able to see Canady on national television, Texas Tech fans can make the drive down to Round Rock to see her in person.

“I'm staying in Texas, which is amazing,” Canady said. “I know I'm excited for that. I’ve already seen a lot of Red Raider fans who were happy about me staying in Texas. So I'm excited for that.”

Canady was drafted two days after one of the more historic outings of her career. In the Red Raiders’ season finale against rival Baylor, the 6-foot right-hander from Topeka, Kansas, tossed her first perfect game. She struck out nine batters as Texas Tech won 8-0 in five innings.

Texas Tech reached the run-rule mark while Canady was standing in the on-deck circle. That’s when Haile Toney doubled to left center, driving in Kaitlyn Terry and Taylor Pannell.

“I knew I was pitching a good game,” Canady said. “I was in the on-deck circle and that’s when it sank in. I was thinking, ‘OK, if Toney gets these runs in, the game's over.’ So, to get the first perfect game of my career on senior night with my family in town, that was amazing.”

Canady ended the regular season ranking sixth nationally in ERA (1.24), fourth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.48) and 10th in total strikeouts (209).

Texas Tech is 52-6 this season, but failed to capture a second consecutive Big 12 title. The Red Raiders fell on Saturday in the conference championship to Arizona State.

Bigger goals await the Red Raiders. After making the championship series in Oklahoma City last year, then bolstering their roster with high-profile transfers in the offseason, Texas Tech is projected to make it back to the sport’s biggest stage.

Canady feels those expectations, but she’s unbothered by them.

“There's always pressure, but I've said this before, pressure is a privilege. It’'s a privilege to go out on that stage, it's a privilege to make it to Oklahoma City and it's going to be hard. But also, anything can happen,” Canady said. “Like, we've seen one-seeds not make it past their own regionals. It takes one good weekend. It takes getting hot at the right time. And honestly, anyone can win. So, I’m just excited to get started.”

All that’s left for Canady to cap off a remarkable collegiate career is to win a national championship. She’s been to the Women’s College World Series three times now — twice with Stanford and once with Texas Tech — but hasn’t raised the trophy in the final game.

To do so this season would be especially meaningful for not just Canady, but her fans at Texas Tech too.

“It would be amazing, not only just for this team, but I feel like for the Lubbock community and the Texas Tech community. I feel like those fans are excited, and just being able to play for them and win for them and get a national championship for them would be awesome.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Softball's highest-paid star has one goal left: NiJaree Canady's title chase begins