ESPN REPORT Congratulations : Legendary Texas Texas Red Raiders softball Player NiJaree Canady has been named as the The Greatest of All Time in College women’s Softball, pitchers in college softball history and left an indelible mark on the Red Raiders program and it…Read more…

1. ESPN REPORT Congratulations : Legendary Texas Texas Red Raiders softball Player NiJaree Canady has been named as the The Greatest of All Time in College women’s Softball, pitchers in college softball history and left an indelible mark on the Red Raiders program

LUBBOCK, TX – Texas Tech’s standout pitcher NiJaree Canady has been officially recognized by ESPN as the Greatest of All Time among college softball pitchers, solidifying her legacy in the annals of the sport. The announcement follows Canady’s record‑setting run through the 2025 season, which saw Texas Tech capture its first Big 12 regular‑season and tournament titles under first-year coach Gerry Glasco ([en.wikipedia.org][1]).

 

Transferring from Stanford in July 2024 under a groundbreaking NIL agreement exceeding \$1 million, Canady transformed the Red Raiders into national contenders ([en.wikipedia.org][2]). She led NCAA Division I with a minuscule 0.97 ERA, amassed 317 strikeouts, and notched an impressive 34–7 record in 239 innings ([en.wikipedia.org][2]). Her dominance earned her back‑to‑back NFCA National Pitcher of the Year honors and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year—the first in Texas Tech’s history ([en.wikipedia.org][2]).

 

Canady’s artistry on the mound propelled the Red Raiders to their inaugural Women’s College World Series title game appearance, upsetting No. 1 Oklahoma with a dramatic semifinal win, before falling to arch‑rival Texas ([washingtonpost.com][3]). She delivered every pitch through the first two games of the finals, notching a complete‑game shutout in Game 2 — a testament to her endurance and competitive fire ([apnews.com][4]).

 

Beyond her 2025 performance, Canady joins an elite class of pitchers with a career ERA of just 0.76 across Stanford and Texas Tech, ranking at the top of NCAA all‑time ERA leaderboards ([en.wikipedia.org][5]).

 

Her impact transcends statistics. As ESPN noted, “she put Texas Tech softball on the map,” becoming the first million‑dollar softball player and paving the way for future NIL fights in women’s sports ([espn.com][6]).

 

As Texas Tech gears up for 2026—with Canady signed on with another historic seven‑figure NIL deal—her influence both on and off the field marks a transformative era in collegiate softball ([reuters.com][7]).