“I’m thrilled that a player of the caliber of NiJa Canady can take advantage of her success and her hard work that she’s given to the sport and given to the school that she’s at,” Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said after Texas claimed the national title with a 10-4 win over the Red Raiders in the decisive Game 3 of the championship series on Friday night.

News of the name, image and likeness deal broke hours before Canady was set to pitch in the final game. She lasted one inning and gave up five runs on five hits.

Canady signed a similar deal with Texas Tech last year after she had led Stanford to the World Series semifinals two straight years. She didn’t directly address either deal, but noted that her success has come with some negative attention as the sport has grown.

“I feel like more eyes are on the sport,” she said, “Of course, that comes with positives and negatives. There’s always like, negative attention that comes with it. But I feel like for the whole and just growing the sport and just giving younger girls something to look up to — it means a lot.”

Despite the rough finish, she led the nation in wins with 34 and threw every pitch in Tech’s first five World Series games. Glasco said her success and the exposure she has brought the school has made it all worthwhile.

“I’m not an expert,” Glasco said. “ Somebody could really do an in-depth study. But I have no doubt it (the first deal) would exceed a million dollars of value. I think it was of great value for our school.”

Glasco said there has been too much negative attention brought to the money Canady has earned.

“I found it almost insulting to her at times when I listened to broadcasts how much they talked about it because, like I said, I don’t hear it when we talk about — when we watch a men’s basketball game or a men’s football game, and to me that’s not right,” Glasco said. “That shouldn’t be that way.”

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

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.

Canady is making $1 million this season in her first season with the Red Raiders. She will be on the mound Friday night when Texas Tech (54-13) meets Texas in Game 3 of the WCWS championship series. The Red Raiders are vying for their first national title.

Canady was expected to be back with Texas Tech but there were also concerns the right-hander might enter the transfer portal to see how much she is worth. But her manager, Derrick Shelby of Prestige Management Group, told ESPN on Friday that Canady has signed another deal with the Matador Club, which serves as the Red Raiders’ NIL collective.

“Nija Canady is the most electrifying player in softball. She’s box office and she goes out every day and competes,” Shelby told ESPN. “The decision to stay at Tech was not difficult. This program has taken care of her. They have showed how much she is appreciated. The entire staff, her teammates, the school in general have been great. Tonight she is playing for a national championship and she is making history. Everything she wants from this game she can get here at Texas Tech.”

Former Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes has developed a close bond with Canady. The three-time Super Bowl champion and his wife, Brittany, are in Oklahoma City attending the WCWS and cheering on the Red Raiders.

“It’s special. The way she’s able to control the softball and the way she’s able to locate in the strike zone, I mean it is special,” Mahomes told ESPN during Thursday night’s Game 2. “And to be able to watch it firsthand all season long, you know why we’re in the position that we’re in. It starts off with her and her leadership.”

Canady spent her first two college seasons at Stanford before transferring to Texas Tech. She is 34-6 with a 0.97 ERA and 317 strikeouts in 239 innings this season and also leads the squad with 11 homers.

On Friday, Canady will be looking to toss her third complete game in three days. The Red Raiders lost 2-1 in Wednesday’s Game 1 before prevailing 4-3 on Thursday.

Texas (55-12) is also on the verge of winning its first national title on Friday night.

–Field Level Media

The next class of WWE stars have been announced.

The promotion company announced it’s fifth NIL (Next In Line) class on Friday night and had several notable college athletes that include a few second generation WWE members.

Among the most notable names are Jacob Henry, the son of Mark Henry, Brock Rechsteiner, the son of Scott Steiner, and T.J. Bullard, son of Titus O’Neil.

Jacob Henry was a football player and wrestler at Oklahoma. His father is a former WWE Heavyweight champion and is in the companies Hall of Fame.

Rechsteiner played two seasons at Jacksonville State as a wide receiver. He made 17 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns during the FBS portion of his collegiate career. His father was a WCW world champion and formed a legendary duo with his brother, Rick Steiner.

Bullard was a three-year player for UCF and recorded two total tackles during his career. His father is a current WWE member and is a global ambassador for the company.

The other members of the class are ice hockey player Madison Kaiser, lacrosse player Gareth Beck, field hockey player Bianca Pizano, basketball players Gina Adams and Fatima Katembo and track athletes Zuriel Jiménez, Kerrigan Huynh and Meghan Walker.

Fresh off leading OSU to its 12th national championship last month, both Cowboys finished with 2-1-1 records at the event, which concluded on Saturday. The International side came away with a 35-25 victory over the Americans.

During Thursday’s mixed fourball action, Fang teamed with Farah O’Keefe to notch a 3-and-2 victory over Caitlyn Macnab and Daniel Bennett. Stout and Kelly Xu tied their match with Eila Galitsky and Luke Poulter.

Friday morning saw Fang and Stout paired together in a foursome match against Connor Graham and Tyler Weaver. The Cowboy duo would prevail, 3 and 1. The afternoon session saw Fang paired with O’Keefe for mixed foursomes with the duo tying its match with Weaver and Lottie Woad. 

Stout would pair with Anna Davis for the session, coming up short in a 2-and-1 loss to Carolina Chacarra and Pablo Ereno.

The event closed with singles action on Saturday with Stout taking down Charlie Forster, 3 and 2, while Fang  fell in his matchup against Justin Hastings, 2 up.

Day 1 Mixed Fourball

Farah O’Keefe/Ethan Fang def. Caitlyn Macnab/Daniel Bennett, 3&2

Preston Stout/Kelly Xu tied Eila Galitsky/Luke Poulter

Day 2 Foursomes

Ethan Fang/Preston Stout def. Connor Graham/Tyler Weaver. 3&1

Day 2 Mixed Foursomes

Ethan Fang/Farah O’Keefe tied Tyler Weaver/Lottie Woad

Carolina Chacarra/Pablo Ereno def. Preston Stout/Anna Davis, 2&1

Day 3 Singles

Preston Stout def. Charlie Forster, 3&2

Justin Hastings def. Ethan Fang, 2 up