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Texas Tech softball star NiJaree Canady signs another 7-figure NIL deal with Red Raiders: Source

Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady, the first softball player to land a $1 million name, image and likeness contract, has signed another seven-figure deal to return to the Red Raiders next year, a source briefed on the deal confirmed. Canady’s deal is north of $1 million, the source said. The Wall Street Journal first […]

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Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady, the first softball player to land a $1 million name, image and likeness contract, has signed another seven-figure deal to return to the Red Raiders next year, a source briefed on the deal confirmed.

Canady’s deal is north of $1 million, the source said. The Wall Street Journal first reported her new deal.

About a year ago, the Matador Club, the Red Raiders NIL collective, paid Canady $1,050,024 to leave Stanford and head to Lubbock, Texas, for one year. The $24 was for Canady’s jersey number, with $50,000 for living expenses and $1 million for Canady.

The deal has paid off for the Red Raiders, who will play Texas in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series championship series Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Canady has thrown every pitch — 495 of them — for the Red Raiders in Oklahoma City and has emerged as the face of college softball. Her trademark footstomp celebration — dubbed the “Nija stomp” — has made its way to T-shirts, and Tech alum and Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes was in attendance to watch her pitch in Game 2 on Thursday.

In that game, Canady stopped a Longhorns’ comeback attempt to even the WCWS and force a Game 3, stranding the potential tying run on third in a 4-3 win. The junior ace cruised through the first six innings but faltered early in the seventh. With Texas threatening in the top of the inning, having climbed back from a 4-1 hole to bring the game within a score of being tied, Canady faced hitter Kayden Henry with two outs and a runner on third. But Canady delivered three straight rise balls on the outside corner to strike out Henry and ice the game.

Canady shut down Texas for most of Wednesday’s Game 1 loss, until Texas’ Reese Atwood won it with a two-run single in the sixth inning after a gutsy swing on what was supposed to be an intentional walk. It was a series of pitches Canady called a “mistake.”

 

Canady’s 0.97 ERA is best in Division I, and her 317 strikeouts (in 239 innings) rank second.

At Stanford, Canady won USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year award and led the program to two straight WCWS appearances.

If Canady leads Texas Tech to a Game 3 win, it will be her and the program’s first WCWS title. And now, she’s set to run it back in 2026.

(Photo: Brett Rojo / Imagn Images)





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Wisconsin Files Suit Against Miami as College Athletics Continues to Try to Work Out Its Problems

Although judge Claudia Wilken signed off on the House v. NCAA settlement earlier this month, there is still a lot of work to be done to apply guardrails on a system that has felt lawless for the past few years. Another step in that process started on Friday when the University of Wisconsin and its […]

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June 22, 2025

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Although judge Claudia Wilken signed off on the House v. NCAA settlement earlier this month, there is still a lot of work to be done to apply guardrails on a system that has felt lawless for the past few years.

Another step in that process started on Friday when the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a complaint in state court against the University of Miami, claiming the Hurricanes poached a defensive back Xavier Lucas, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. The whole thing sounds like a mess, but perhaps more important than the specifics of this particular case is what precedent it will set.

Talks of tampering in this portal/NIL era have been widespread. Even if Miami did what Wisconsin is accusing it of, it’s incredibly hard to imagine the Hurricanes are the only ones doing it. The issue resides in the fact that despite tampering being bad, the NCAA has been unable to police a crosswalk in recent years much less its member institutions because of different things happening in the courts.

I think everyone would rather the threat of tampering go away, but because of how widespread the issue is viewed, it seemed like it would be a tough thing to tackle. For some schools, accusing another school of tampering would feel like throwing stones in a glass house.

OSU coach Mike Gundy has on a few occasions likened the NCAA’s fleeting power to speeding tickets.

“There’s a speed limit sign that says 55, but nobody drives 55 and there’s nobody getting a ticket,” said Gundy back in 2022. “So, you really don’t have to drive 55. That’s actually what’s in place right now, in my opinion. What direction it’s going to go from now moving forward, who’s going to police it, what the mandates will be, I’m not sure. We’re just living day to day with this.”

He said that back in 2022, and it still feels relevant more than three years later. But maybe this lawsuit is a first step in getting the tampering issue solved. This is just one of many things the new world of college athletics will have to figure out in the fallout of the settlement being signed off on. It certainly feels like this is going to continue to take a while.

Here’s what the Big Ten had to say about Wisconsin’s lawsuit:

“The Big Ten Conference is aware of the litigation recently filed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison against the University of Miami and is supportive of UW-Madison’s position. As alleged, the University of Miami knowingly ignored contractual obligations and disregarded the principle of competitive equity that is fundamental to collegiate athletics.

“The Big Ten Conference believes that the University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison’s efforts to preserve.”



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WATCH: $4.1M NIL Star AJ Dybantsa Honors His Roots With Heartfelt Nike Giveaway in Utah

AJ Dybantsa may originally be from Brockton, Massachusetts, but he now calls Utah home, as he went to Utah Prep in his senior year of high school, and will be going to BYU in Provo for college. He has an NIL partnership deal with Nike, and is now giving back to his new community by […]

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June 22, 2025

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AJ Dybantsa may originally be from Brockton, Massachusetts, but he now calls Utah home, as he went to Utah Prep in his senior year of high school, and will be going to BYU in Provo for college. He has an NIL partnership deal with Nike, and is now giving back to his new community by giving away Nikes in Utah.

The No. 1-ranked prospect from the Class of 2025 per ESPN and On3 arrived at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of America in Provo to give away the free Nikes to kids in need. AJ Dybantsa, whose NIL is valued at $4.1 million per On3, documented the trip in his YouTube channel, as he gave away not just shoes, but also bags, balls, and other Nike merchandise. Here is the video:

The kids made a special sign for the incoming BYU freshman and were chanting his name as he addressed them and their families.

“Thank you y’all, I’m AJ Dybantsa, a freshman at BYU,” the No. 1-ranked recruit introduced himself. “I’m here with Richie Saunders who’s a senior, Dawson Baker and Brody. We have a special delivery.”

This was when Dybantsa revealed that he was a member of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of America when he was younger too.

“I used to be a Club kid, when I was five, six, I used to do the summer program, My dad used to drop me off and I used to just, you know, play basketball, hang with kids and just, you know, have a good time,” he said.

Dybantsa also revealed that he previously donated to the Boy’s and Girls’ Club in Brockton, as well as the one in Boston, and now, as this is his newest community, he has donated to the one in Provo as well.

Dybantsa will be entering his freshman year in BYU, though he is not expected to stay for long, as he has been honest about wanting to get to the NBA as soon as possible.

AJ Dybantsa to Return to the International Stage for the FIBA U19 World Cup

Before he begins his freshman year at Provo, however, the top-ranked BYU recruit will be suiting up for the red, white and blue as he heads to Switzerland as part of USA Basketball’s U19 national team. He will participate in the FIBA U19 World Cup, alongside former teammates JJ Mandaquit and Tyran Stokes.

Dybantsa has plenty of national team experience, giving the US gold medals in the FIBA Americas U16 tournament and the FIBA U17 World Cup. He also represented Team USA during last April’s Nike Hoop Summit, but represented Jamaica and Congo for Team World last year. His mother is an immigrant from Jamaica, while his father is an immigrant from Congo.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!



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South Carolina Moves to Ban NIL Deals for High School Athletes Amid Growing Legal Debate

In response to legislative pressure, the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) amended its bylaws this week to explicitly prohibit student-athletes from earning compensation for their athletic participation. The change, documented in a report by the South Carolina Daily Gazette, aims to comply with a newly passed state budget clause that bans public school districts […]

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June 22, 2025

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In response to legislative pressure, the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) amended its bylaws this week to explicitly prohibit student-athletes from earning compensation for their athletic participation. The change, documented in a report by the South Carolina Daily Gazette, aims to comply with a newly passed state budget clause that bans public school districts from affiliating with any athletic association that “permits, allows or authorizes” NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) compensation.

Previously, the wording of SCHSL’s rules could have been interpreted as permitting athletes to earn compensation as long as it wasn’t tied to athletic performance or use of school property. League Commissioner Jerome Singleton clarified that the amendment doesn’t reflect a new policy but rather reinforces long-standing rules about maintaining amateur status.

“You can change the wording, but you can’t change the intent,” Singleton told the South Carolina Daily Gazette.

South Carolina State Senator Sean Bennett (R-Summerville), who authored the budget clause, said the policy was meant to protect the amateur nature of high school sports.

“These are extracurricular activities. They are no place for the ugliness or business activities ruining college athletics,” Bennett said.

The move comes as nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia have adopted NIL policies for high school athletes. South Carolina remains among the few actively pushing back.

Under the new bylaw language, the following penalties are in place:

Since the NCAA allowed NIL in 2021, the floodgates of compensation for athletes have opened — with minimal federal regulation. The SCHSL and its supporters fear those trends are now seeping into high school sports.

In March, the SCHSL also relaxed its transfer rule, allowing one penalty-free school transfer for athletes — mirroring the NCAA’s now-normalized transfer environment.

Bill Carter, a consultant who advises schools and athletic associations on NIL policy, called the South Carolina budget clause “pretty extreme” and warned it could prompt a lawsuit.

“The courts are never going to accept that there’s an impediment to a young person’s ability to earn income by way of their name, image and likeness,” Carter said to the South Carolina Daily Gazette.

Carter referenced court rulings in North Carolina and the landmark Supreme Court decision against the NCAA as strong indicators that legal challenges to South Carolina’s stance may be successful.

While many lawmakers support the crackdown, others—like Rep. Jackie “Coach” Hayes—emphasize concern over team cohesion.

“We got enough ‘me’ in this world,” Hayes said to the Gazette. “We need to get everybody working together for a common cause.”

Still, as of now, South Carolina stands firm — making it one of the few states not only to oppose NIL deals for high schoolers but to codify that opposition into law.



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Wisconsin, NIL collective file joint lawsuit on Miami for tampering | News, Sports, Jobs

Camp Randall Stadium is seen during a football game between Wisconsin and Miami of Ohio on Sept. 12, 2015, in Madison, Wis. Associated Press file photo The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers’ […]

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June 22, 2025

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Camp Randall Stadium is seen during a football game between Wisconsin and Miami of Ohio on Sept. 12, 2015, in Madison, Wis.

Associated Press file photo

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers’ football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida team this upcoming season.

Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics.

The player in question in the filing is referred to only as “Student-Athlete A.” But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.

Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas’ name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall.

The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore.



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Miami coach J.D. Arteaga discusses NIL, House settlement impact

When Miami Hurricanes fans hear about NIL or the House settlement, they most likely think about its impact on the football team. But there are other sports at UM that need plenty of money, including basketball and baseball plus Olympic sports. With the baseball season recently concluded with an oh-so-close run at Omaha, CaneSport caught […]

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June 22, 2025

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When Miami Hurricanes fans hear about NIL or the House settlement, they most likely think about its impact on the football team. But there are other sports at UM that need plenty of money, including basketball and baseball plus Olympic sports.

With the baseball season recently concluded with an oh-so-close run at Omaha, CaneSport caught up with J.D. Arteaga to discuss where things stand in this oh-so-important area.

From Rock Bottom to Oh-So-Close To Omaha: Miami Hurricane Baseball’s 2025 Resilience Story … What’s Next for Miami Hurricanes Baseball? Coach J.D. Arteaga Breaks Down 2026 Returners, Needs

It wasn’t in the too distant past that Arteaga bemoaned how the Miami baseball program was at a disadvantage financially because the pre-NIL system had scholarships divvied up among teams with a 50 percent baseball scholarship considered a lot. But when you take a 50 percent scholarship at a school vs. Miami vs. a state school like Florida, an in-state baseball player was paying tens of thousands of dollars less a year in UF vs. UM tuition for that same half scholarship.

NIL has, to some extent, balanced that out, although Miami still has to overpay to make up the difference between tuitions and living expenses at the different schools.

That’s because while the NCAA is allowing up to 34 scholarships for baseball programs, many programs are in the 20s because it’s cost prohibitive for departments to give that many scholarships. Miami, per Arteaga, has landed at 21 baseball scholarships for now. Again, any differences money-wise can be addressed through NIL.

“It definitely helps Miami for sure (with NIL available vs. the old system),” Arteaga said. “They [Miami administration] are raising us to 21 (scholarships), a lot better than the old 11.7. I’m not complaining. But it’s still going to be more expensive to come to Miami than anywhere else. Kids that live off campus, real estate getting a two-bedroom apartment in the Gables area is going to be a lot more expensive than getting that same apartment in Gainesville or Tallahassee or anywhere else. So it’s a factor, but I’m a big believer in you get what you pay for, and this place is special.”

With the ability to pay more via NIL if necessary to land a prospect, Arteaga sums up that finances at UM are “less of a problem now.”

“The administration has helped out quite a bit, and if we can’t make up the difference in scholarship that’s where NIL comes in,” Arteaga said. “At other schools that NIL is going directly to a player’s pockets because they don’t have to pay (as much) for the school. That’s where the disadvantage always comes.”

The scholarship percentages aren’t always so obvious, either. For instance, former star Yohandy Morales had need-based aid at Miami and never was on a baseball scholarship. And current star Daniel Cuvet’s father works at UM, so that covers most of his tuition cost.

With that said, “If you have an absolute need for somebody, you have to overpay,” Arteaga says.

As it pertains to the House settlement, Arteaga said there’s no camping out in front of Athletic Director Dan Radakovich’s office asking for a decent piece of the pie for his players.

It’s a case of Arteaga trusting that the Miami administration will take care of baseball as it needs to.

“They decide, and I know football is king,” Arteaga said. “We’re able to charter and do a lot of things that we do because of football (money coming in), and I know that and it’s as it should be. Whatever they give us I have to go out and make up the difference (with fundraising for NIL, etc.), and whatever we have to do, we have to do it.”



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Xavier Lucas’ attorney denies Miami meeting alleged in Wisconsin lawsuit

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a lawsuit Friday against the University of Miami, alleging tortious interference. While not mentioned in the suit, instead cited as “Student Athlete A,” the complaint centers around defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin for Miami this winter. Lucas never actually entered the transfer portal. A […]

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June 22, 2025

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The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a lawsuit Friday against the University of Miami, alleging tortious interference. While not mentioned in the suit, instead cited as “Student Athlete A,” the complaint centers around defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin for Miami this winter.

Lucas never actually entered the transfer portal. A standout freshman cornerback in 2024 for the Badgers, Lucas posted 18 tackles and an interception in seven games. Lucas withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami in January, circumventing the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Wisconsin is seeking financial damages and a judgment that Miami’s actions “wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.” Lucas’ attorney, Darren Heitner, said in the winter that Wisconsin violated NCAA rules by refusing to place Lucas in the transfer portal.

In the complaint filed Friday, Wisconsin alleges that a Miami staff member and alumnus met Lucas and his family at a relative’s home in Florida in December 2024 after the defensive back signed a two-year, revenue-sharing deal with Wisconsin. That included a “compensation commitment” from Miami that was “more lucrative” than Wisconsin’s deal.

“Miami representatives communicated with Student-Athlete A and his family members, including an in-person December 2024 visit from a Miami coach and a prominent Miami alumnus to the Florida home of a relative of Student-Athlete A,” Wisconsin’s complaint states. “The information related to the in-home visit was communicated to UW-Madison by a relative of Student-Athlete A on December 18, 2024.”

Heitner denied the allegations, telling On3 on Saturday that Lucas never met with a Miami coach and prominent alumnus in December 2024. Heitner previously threatened to file an antitrust lawsuit against Wisconsin if Lucas was not able to play at Miami.

“Wisconsin’s allegations that my client, Xavier Lucas, met with a Miami coach and prominent alumnus in December 2024 are false,” Lucas’ attorney Darren Heitner told On3.

Heitner is an adjunct professor of NIL at the University of Miami School of Law.

In the lawsuit, Wisconsin alleges that Miami communicated with Lucas, “knowingly inducing” him to do so despite being under contract with the Badgers. Wisconsin wrote in the filing that it hopes the lawsuit “will advance the overall integrity of the game by holding programs legally accountable when they wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.”

The University of Miami has yet to respond to a request for comment. The Big Ten is supporting Wisconsin, telling On3 in a statement that “The University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison’s efforts to preserve.”

It’s an unprecedented moment in college football, with one university accusing another of tampering and it will put the NCAA transfer portal rules to the test.

“These are the type of tampering allegations that are typically fought behind closed doors at the professional sports level based on the leagues’ collective bargaining agreement,” sports lawyer and professor Dan Lust told On3 on Friday. “Here, in the absence of any type of similar mechanism at the collegiate level, this dispute is going to be fought in open court for the world to see the complex interplay of forces in and around the transfer portal. This is truly an unprecedented case and one that commands the attention of the college sports world.”



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