Before anything else, NiJaree Canady leads with her faith.
“I am a child of God before I am an athlete,” she shared in a recent post that quickly gained traction on social media. Her Instagram bio references Psalm 34:4 — “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” — and she has consistently pointed to her identity in Christ as the foundation for her success on and off the field.
All glory to God💗 https://t.co/wiWSCvXEap
— NiJaree Canady (@CanadyNijaree) May 29, 2024
Tomorrow, Canady will speak at Pete Christy’s Monthly Lunch Church in Lubbock, Texas, alongside Texas Tech Women’s Chaplain Brandi Cantrell. The event begins Tuesday, August 20 at 11:45 a.m. CT at the Lubbock Professional Firefighters Association Hall and is open to all.
Click here to RSVP or view the full event page
Attendees can expect to hear from Canady about more than just softball. “Everyone knows NiJaree Canady loves softball,” the event description says. “Come see how she loves God.”
That faith-forward message follows a summer where Canady’s platform has expanded dramatically. On August 9, she appeared at the Empowering Girls for Life conference in Lombard, Illinois, as a featured “Rising Star” speaker.
She is also now a brand ambassador for Venmo in partnership with the Big 12 Conference, promoting new school-branded debit cards designed to support student-athletes and fans alike.
“This partnership with Venmo will help create real financial empowerment for athletes,” Canady said. “It will be easier than ever to put my NIL earnings to work in ways that matter to me and support Red Raider Nation at the same time.”
Pay to Play: College Baseball and the NCAA’s New Economy of Visibility
She joins Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and TCU guard Olivia Miles in the campaign. The announcement follows her ongoing NIL partnerships with Easton, Rawlings, and Team Mahomes, a ten-year initiative launched by Patrick Mahomes and Adidas.
Through the Adidas–Texas Tech partnership, Canady and five other Red Raiders were selected for national branding campaigns. That deal also coincided with Mahomes announcing a $5 million donation toward Tech’s athletic facilities. Check out her merchandise store.
A 2023 National Freshman of the Year, 2024 USA Collegiate Player of the Year, and now a multi-platform ambassador, Canady remains rooted in mentorship. In one early clip from her Stanford days, she broke down pitching mechanics for youth players with a calm, intuitive touch.
That same poise was on display after the WCWS final in Oklahoma City.
Whether she is sharing her story on a national stage or speaking tomorrow in her community about faith, NiJaree Canady continues to build something bigger than softball.
More on NiJaree Canady’s summer highlights
Adidas–Mahomes NIL partnership announcement (WIBW)Venmo x Big 12 brand ambassador announcement (On3)
Empowering Girls for Life speaker list
RSVP for Lunch Church in Lubbock
