NCAA softball star NiJaree Canady has gone pro, officially signing with the Texas Volts after a contract holdout briefly stalled her AUSL debut.
After going No. 2 to the Volts in the 2026 AUSL Draft, Canady missed Texas’s opening seres against the Spark as she worked to finalize a deal.
Canady reportedly took home $1 million per year in NIL money during her final two seasons at Texas Tech, in addition to off-field endorsements.
“We’re pleased to welcome NiJa Canady to the AUSL and look forward to seeing her compete with the Texas Volts this season,” AUSL shared on social media.
Howver, Canady’s debut wasn’t the smoothest, as the rookie ace gave up six runs in Sunday’s 9-1 loss to Carolina.
No. 1 pick Karlyn Pickens earned the win for the Blaze, recording her second complete game in a row while allowing just one run on three hits.
Where to Watch Texas Volts Ace NiJaree Canady in AUSL Action
Texas continues its series against Carolina tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on ESPN2.
