John and Tracy Sellers are attempting to recruit NiJaree Canady, USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year to play for Texas Tech. Canady, a pitching phenom from Topeka, Kansas, is considering whether to leave Stanford in favor of Texas Tech. John Sellers, co-founder of Double Eagle Energy and the Matador Club, a Texas Tech-affiliated name, image and likeness (NIL) collective is prepared to offer Canady a $1 million NIL deal.
Canady is still cautious about leaving Stanford, despite the offer. Although Texas Tech’s softball is not at the same level as Stanford’s. Yet, Sellers’, who played football for the Red Raiders, offers unique insights. His wife Tracy also played softball at Tech and was on the search committee for newly appointed manager Gerry Glasco. The Double Eagle Energy co-founder’s resources include a multi-billion-dollar company in the oil and gas industry and the Matador Club, which pledges to sign every athlete on campus to an NIL deal.
The Sellers offered Canady a $1 million NIL deal, which would be a ground-breaking offer in the sport. Despite this, the pitcher decides to tour the Tech campus and discuss her decision with her former Stanford teammates and coaches. Her hesitance only makes the Sellers want her more. Just two days later, Canady announced on social media that she was committing to Texas Tech, and Matador Club confirmed that they had signed her.
Canady’s NCAA deal, amounting to $1,050,024 for one year, represents a landmark in NCAA contracts, believed to be the highest ever for a softball player. The $1 million is a “life-changing” sum, according to John Sellers, who believes it is fully deserving for Canady’s talent. Her commitment to Texas Tech represents an unprecedented moment for college softball, potentially changing the financial landscape of the NCAA softball contracts and marking a significant shift for the sport.
In Canady’s two years at Stanford, she outperformed her peers. She led the nation in ERA as a freshman and sophomore, and registered 337 strikeouts in 2024. Her unique ability, velocity and movement on the pitch could be a game-changer for Texas Tech, who has never reached a Women’s College World Series. The NIL deal given to Canady has not only reset the market but obliterated it.
But success and wealth bring pressure, and Texas Tech softball will have to rise to the increased expectations that come with well-funded aspirations. OpenDorse’s CEO Blake Lawrence postulated the scenario of another high-performing player like Caitlin Clark entering the transfer portal. He believes that the rise of women’s sports and the increase in softball viewership could justify the $1 million payout.
