Tag: NiJaree Canady

Reigning National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady reveals transfer destination

This was a massive win for Texas Tech and new head coach Gerry Glasco.

College softball’s reigning National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady announced where she will play next season. After leading Stanford to the Women’s College World Series, Canady opted to enter the transfer portal. She announced on social media that she will continue her playing career with the Texas Tech Lady Raiders softball team.

The school recently hired Gerry Glasco away from Louisiana, where he guided the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 300-88 record over seven seasons. They were selected to an NCAA Regional in every season except for the pandemic season in 2020.

Canady brings a remarkable career record of 41-10 with a 0.67 ERA with 53 starts under her belt. She has totaled 365.2 innings with 53 starts, 34 complete games, and nine saves. Last season Canady led the Stanford staff with 24 wins and 337 strikeouts in 230.2 innings pitched.

Canady is part of an impressive transfer class that the new softball head coach has put together in just over a month on the job.

Texas Tech Softball Transfer Class

  • Mihyia Davis, OF: Louisiana (Sun Belt Player of the Year)
  • Victoria Valdez, Catcher: Louisiana
  • Chloe Riassetto, Pitcher: Louisiana
  • Lauren Allred, IF: Louisiana
  • Alexa Langeliers, IF: Louisiana
  • Alana Johnson, Utility: Washington
  • Katie Lott, Outfield: Oklahoma State
  • Makayla Garcia, Utility: UT-Tyler
  • NiJaree Canady, Pitcher: Stanford

National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady commits to Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders picked up a big recruiting win, earning a commitment from National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady.

In a move that creates a seismic shift in the balance of power in the world of college softball, NiJaree Canady has committed to Texas Tech.

The USA Softball National Player of the Year is making the move from Stanford, where she helped lead the Cardinal to back-to-back Women’s College World Series appearances. Now, the Red Raiders become a favorite in the Big 12 and to make it to Oklahoma City next spring with the best pitcher in softball in the circle.

Canady led the nation with 337 strikeouts and a 0.73 ERA and was 24-7 for Stanford. She allowed just 44 walks. She held opponents to a .147 opponent’s batting average and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 0.69.

In the 2024 WCWS, Canady started five elimination games for Stanford, going 4-1 and allowing just one earned run. The lone loss came in a 1-0 pitcher’s dual vs. Texas.

The Oklahoma Sooners were hoping to bolster their pitching staff with Canady, but ultimately it was Texas Tech and new head coach Gerry Glasco who pulled off the huge recruiting win.

The Sooners will roll with Kierston Deal, Peytn Monticelli, incoming freshman Audrey Lowry, and transfer additions Sam Landry (Louisiana) and Isabella Smith (Campbell).

Deal has shown promise in her first two years in Norman, but hasn’t been relied upon as a frontline starter to this point. She’ll have her chance in 2025 as the Sooners head into the SEC.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Former Campbell pitcher Isabella Smith commits to Oklahoma Sooners

Transfer pitcher Isabella Smith commits to the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Oklahoma Sooners have picked up their fourth transfer addition of the offseason, earning a commitment from Isabella Smith from Campbell.

Smith was 26-7 with a 2.01 ERA in 2024. She pitched 206 innings, struck out 238 batters and allowed an opponent’s batting average of .181. She started 30 games and appeared in 42 of Campbell’s 59 games this season.

She had six games with double-digit strikeouts, including 15- and 14-strikeout performances in a span of three days in April.

In her career, Smith is 70-28, logged 593.1 innings, allowed an opponent’s batting average of .193 and a WHIP of 0.97.

 

Smith joins an Oklahoma pitching staff that includes [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag], [autotag]Paytn Monticelli[/autotag], and incoming freshman [autotag]Audrey Lowry[/autotag].

The Sooners are still hoping to make a splash in their pursuit of Stanford star and National Player of the Year [autotag]NiJaree Canady[/autotag], but Smith gives them a talented and experienced arm that can throw a bunch of innings for the Sooners.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Stanford’s NiJaree Canady officially in the transfer portal

USA Softball Player of the Year NiJaree Canady is officially in the transfer portal.

What was reported over the weekend is now official. Stanford star pitcher [autotag]NiJaree Canady[/autotag] is in the transfer portal. According to James McLeod of D1Softball, it became official on Monday.

After helping the Stanford Cardinal reach the [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] each of the last two seasons, will have a number of options available to her after winning USA Softball Player of the Year.

Canady led the nation with 337 strikeouts and a 0.73 ERA and was 24-7 for Stanford. She allowed just 44 walks. She held opponents to a .147 opponent’s batting average and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 0.69.

In the 2024 WCWS, Canady started five elimination games for Stanford, going 4-1 and allowing just one earned run. The lone loss coming in a 1-0 pitcher’s dual vs. Texas.

Easily the No. 1 player in the transfer portal and arguably the best player in softball, Canady will have a multitude of options available to her. The Oklahoma Sooners will no doubt be in pursuit, hoping to add the dominant pitcher to their staff.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Stanford’s NiJaree Canady intends to enter the transfer portal per reports

USA Softball National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady intends to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.

One of the biggest names in the sport of softball is on the move. According to multiple reports, Stanford’s [autotag]NiJaree Canady[/autotag] is expected to be in the transfer portal.

According to Landon Reinhardt of NBC News outlet KSNT in Topeka, Kan., Canady will enter the transfer portal.

A source in the Canady family tells 27 News that the Stanford Cardinal and Topeka High grad will enter the transfer portal. – Reinhardt, KSNT

 

WIBW’s Vince Lovergine is also reporting that Canady is in the transfer portal.

This is arguably the most notable player to hit the portal in the modern transfer era. She’s been the best pitcher in the sport the last two years, carrying Stanford to the [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] in both seasons.

Both in 2023 and 2024, the Cardinal’s two losses came to the No. 1 team in the tournament. In 2023, it was the Oklahoma Sooners who knocked off Canady and the Cardinal in the WCWS. In 2024 it was Texas who handed Stanford both losses in Oklahoma City. This year, the lack of run support from the Cardinal lineup was glaring. Texas held Stanford scoreless in both games.

Canady was special in elimination games for Stanford this postseason. After dropping the opener to LSU in the super regionals, she shutout the Tigers shut out Oklahoma State and beat UCLA in elimination games.

In 2024, Canady was named USA Softball’s National Player of the Year. She led the nation with 337 strikeouts and a 0.73 ERA and was 24-7 for Stanford. She allowed just 44 walks. She held opponents to a .147 opponent’s batting average and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 0.69.

This is a landscape-changing transfer portal entry. Canady is arguably the best player in softball and with two years left of eligibility, the program that earns her commitment will become a shoe-in for the Women’s College World Series and potentially the team to beat in 2025.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State and the best matchups this week in College Softball

The Oklahoma Sooners face the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a top 25 showdown, but what are the other top games this weekend.

The 2024 softball season is off and running, and tournament play from coast-to-coast continues this week.

The Oklahoma Sooners are heading west for the annual Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic for a five-game slate. Additionally, some fantastic matchups are happening in Austin, Raleigh and in Athens.

But what are the best matchups happening this weekend? Here’s a look at eight games we’re looking forward to.

7 Sooners included in D1Softball’s top 100 players entering 2024

The Oklahoma Sooners were well-represented in D1 Softball’s top 100 players ahead of the 2024 season.

The top team in the nation for the last three seasons is reloaded and ready to defend their crown in 2024.

Riding a 53-game winning streak, the Sooners enter the season as the No. 1 team in the nation and look to win a record-setting fourth-consecutive national title.

Though they experienced some turnover, like the loss of Jordy Bahl to Nebraska, the Sooners are still the most talented team, top to bottom. They have a deep lineup and once again a deep pitching staff thanks to Patty Gasso and Jennifer Rocha’s recruiting at the high school ranks and via the transfer portal.

Seven Sooners were represented in D1Softball’s preseason top 100 players (subscription required) in college softball. Oklahoma claimed two of the top six spots, four in the top 15, and six players in the top 26 in the nation. Five of those six are returning from the 2023 season.

Stanford was the only other team with multiple players in the top 15, with [autotag]NiJaree Canady[/autotag] ( No. 4) and [autotag]Taryn Kern[/autotag] (No. 12). Former Sooner [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag] came in at No. 2 in the nation behind Clemson’s Valerie Cagle at No. 1.

Here’s where the seven Sooners landed in the annual preseason ranking.

D1Softball’s way-too-early 2024 Women’s College World Series predictions

Taking a way-too-early stab at the 2024 season, D1Softball shared their predictions on which teams make the Women’s College World Series next year.

Coming off a national championship three-peat it should come as no surprise that the Oklahoma Sooners are expected back in the Women’s College World Series in 2024.

Looking ahead to 2024, D1Softball issued its way-too-early predictions (subscription required) for which teams make next year’s WCWS.

Of course, Oklahoma is expected to be in the mix.

Even without Bahl, the Sooners aren’t going away. Oklahoma still brings back a lot of talent from its 2023 roster. Every major contributor returns for the back-to-back-to-back champions aside from Bahl, Alex Storako, Haley Lee and Grace Lyons. Kierston Deal’s role will likely increase and become the second arm alongside Nicole May. Expect the Sooners to also add another big-time pitcher through the portal like they have done in the past few seasons. Jocelyn Erickson or Sophia Nugent can fill the designated player role. Who plays shortstop is a big question, but there are plenty of candidates – and potential transfer additions – that could take over. – Brady Vernon, D1Softball

Nugent entered the portal, but Oklahoma has options on the bench to  replicate Haley Lee and Grace Lyons’ production from 2023.

From their No. 1 scoring lineup, the Sooners return everyone but Grace Lyons in the batting order. Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings lead the way for a squad hoping to do what no team has done: Win four in a row.

But they’ll have to do so without staff ace Jordy Bahl, who entered the transfer portal on Monday after two years with the Sooners.

Still, Oklahoma has Nicole May, who was fantastic in 2023, finishing with a sub-1.00 ERA. They’ll also put more on Kierston Deal’s plate after she  showed well in relief in 2023.

Here’s who D1Softball is predicting to be back in Oklahoma City in 2024.

Tiare Jennings provides magical moment in Sooners win over Stanford

Oklahoma found the magic one more time in their 4-2 win over the Stanford Cardinal to advance to the Women’s College World Series championship.

At this point, what more is there to say about the Oklahoma Sooners? We are witnesses to one of the greatest runs in collegiate athletics of all time.

Their 4-2 win over Stanford was another feather in the cap of one of the greatest teams in the history of college softball. And they earned their win in a way that’s becoming all too commonplace for the Oklahoma Sooners: a clutch hit from one of their best players with two strikes in the at-bat.

They did it on Thursday against NiJaree Canady, and they did it again in the top of the ninth when Tiare Jennings took the 0-2 pitch to the gap in right-center to score two and put the Sooners ahead for good.

It was a moment of a player harnessing a short memory and making a play in the biggest moment of the game.

Tiare Jennings was 0-4 on the day and was 0-5 against Canady in the two games in the Women’s College World Series.

And that’s why Stanford head coach Jessica Allister elected to walk Jayda Coleman. The Cardinal had Jennings’ number, but this time Tiare answered the call.

“Tiare has this ability to get locked in like nobody I’ve ever seen as well,” Patty Gasso said after the win. “Her swing just looked kind of easy. It looked pretty free and easy and ran right into it at the right time.”

Oklahoma’s lineup creates lose-lose situations for opposing coaches. Pitch to Jayda Coleman, who hit a home run earlier in the game, or to Jennings, who had struggled against the Cardinal. In Jennings’ mind, walking Coleman didn’t change what she needed to do. She knew the Sooners were going to need her in that moment.

“I didn’t know they were going to do that to Jayda,” Jennings said. “It kind of didn’t matter to me. Either way, I was going to have to find a way to either get on or help my team as best I can… I was going to battle. But I was going to keep swinging and just do whatever I can to help the team.”

And just as she has on so many occasions in her three-year career with the Oklahoma Sooners, Tiare Jennings made the magic happen. And it was fitting that the two-RBI double set the record for most runs batted in in a Women’s College World Series.

On her 21st birthday, Jennings was the gift to Sooner Nation, giving Oklahoma the lift it needed to advance to their fourth-straight Women’s College World Series championship.

Oklahoma advances to WCWS Championship with 4-2 win over Stanford

After trailing 2-0 in the first, Nicole May and Jordy Bahl combined for eight scoreless innings and Tiare Jennings hit the go ahead double in the ninth to send Oklahoma to the WCWS Championship Series.

Oklahoma was tested once again and passed it with flying colors against the Stanford Cardinal, picking up their 51st win in a row, 4-2 in extra innings.

Nicole May and Alana Vawter got the start for their respective sides. Both pitched well before giving way to [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag] and NiJaree Canady, who recreated their pitcher’s duel from Thursday, with the Sooners coming out on top once again.

Stanford started fast in the first inning. They had three hits in the inning, highlighted by Kylie Chung’s two-run home run to give Stanford a 2-0 lead right out of the gate. Each of the three hits came with two strikes in the at-bat.

Oklahoma then scored in the second inning thanks to a sac-fly by [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] that brought home [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] to make it 2-1 after two innings. [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] then opened the third inning with a home run that tied it after three innings 2-2. It was Coleman’s 17th home run of the season and is tied for the team lead.

The game was a stalemate the rest of the way as Bahl and Canady put on a pitching clinic. The two underclassmen were fantastic. Even when they gave up a hit, found ways to work around trouble.

In the top of the ninth inning, Oklahoma finally found some separation when, after a leadoff double by [autotag]Grace Lyons[/autotag] and an intentional walk to Coleman, [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] doubled to right field to make it 4-2.

In the bottom of the ninth, Bahl made quick work of the Cardinal, retiring them in order, including two strikeouts.

After allowing two runs on three hits in the first inning, [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] rallied to retire the side in the next four frames against Stanford. It wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth that she allowed the fourth hit of the game. She collected three strikeouts and didn’t allow a walk in what turned out to be a clutch performance.

Bahl threw four innings, allowing four hits and collecting six strikeouts to pick up her 21st win of the tournament.

For Stanford, Vawter allowed four hits and two runs while also having two strikeouts. Canady was the star for the Cardinal. She allowed four hits and two runs on four hits and picked up six strikeouts.

Game 1 of the WCWS Championship will start on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on ESPN. It’s Oklahoma’s fourth straight trip to the Women’s College World Series Championship and

The Sooners will face the winner of No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 4 Tennessee.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=683578888]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jake on Twitter @jake_faigus