Texas Tech softball ace NiJaree Canady received the first golden ticket for the 2026 AUSL Draft, with commissioner Kim Ng surprising the senior following the Red Raiders' Big 12 matchup against Iowa State.
The golden ticket guarantees Canady a spot in Athletes Unlimited Softball League's 2026 Draft, set for May 4th.
"As one of the most talented players in the game today, it is fitting that NiJaree is the first recipient of a golden ticket this year," Ng said.
"This is also the beginning of what will be a truly special draft class, with many outstanding players across the country."
Canady ranks among college softball's most decorated athletes. The pitcher earned multiple first-team All-American honors, won 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, captured back-to-back National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Pitcher of the Year titles, and claimed the Honda Sport Awards for Softball in 2024 and 2025.
The Stanford transfer made headlines when she signed a record-breaking $1,050,024 one-year contract via The Matador Club, an NIL collective affiliated with Texas Tech softball. She signed another seven-figure deal last year, after leading the Red Raiders to its first WCWS championship appearance.
Canady recently launched her Adidas signature player-edition cleat, the ADIZERO Instinct 2.0 PT "NiJa," becoming the first NCAA softball player to release a signature Adidas shoe.
AUSL representatives and softball celebrities will visit college campuses throughout the next month to award additional golden tickets to this year's draft class.
How to Watch NiJaree Canady at the 2026 AUSL Draft
The 2026 AUSL Draft is set for May 4th, with live coverage starting at 7 PM ET on ESPN2.
