NiJaree Canady transfer portal: 5 landing spots for Stanford pitcher ft. Oklahoma
One of the most dominant pitchers in college softball is on the move. NiJaree Canady, the National Player of the Year at Stanford, is apparently on the move, as she has entered the transfer portal. Canady, a six-foot sophomore, was 24-7 this season, with an 0.73 ERA. She fanned a whopping 337 batters in 230 2/3 innings pitched.
Canady has led the Cardinal to the College World Series in each of the last two seasons. But now that she's on the move, all the top programs in college softball figure to be lining up at her door. Here are five of her most likely landing spots.
Five transfer portal landing spots for NiJaree Canady
#5 Kansas
Kansas was 28-25-1 last season. The Jayhawks went 11-16 in the Big 12, and the program doesn't have a ton of postseason success. But they have home field advantage. Canady hails from Topeka, Kansas, and some have suggested her potential transfer could be motivated by a desire to play closer to home.
Being the home state hero could be a new wrinkle for Canady. Given her excellent and how frequently top softball pitchers take the mound, she would be a massive shot in the arm for the Jayhawks. Nevertheless, Kansas is far from the only team from the middle of the nation that would make sense for Canady.
#4 California
Not knowing the nature of the reason for Canady's departure, there's one very specific reason that Cal could make sense. Her brother BJ is a redshirt freshman football player at Cal.
Cal is also a team that could make sense. The Bears have a strong softball tradition but had been on something of a recent slide. But coach Chelsea Spencer had a 35-21-1 season this year and took the Bears to the NCAA Tournament regional round. Canady would certainly help her chances of a deep run.
#3 Oklahoma State
Another team from the middle of the country that could make geographic and competitive sense is the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Under coach Kenny Gajewski, OSU has gone to the last five College World Serieses that have been played.
Nevertheless, the Cowgirls are still looking to get over the top. In their fierce in-state rivalry with defending champion Oklahoma, one player could be the difference to take OSU from close contenders to champions for the first time in their own right. That opportunity could make sense for NiJaree Canady.
#2 Texas
What's closer than a team that makes the Series? How about the team that finishes second. In 2022 and 2024, that was the Longhorns. If OSU doesn't have a competitive bee in its bonnet about the defending champion sooners, Texas certainly does.
A battery of NiJaree Canady and Reese Atwood behind the plate would be otherworldly. Atwood won the 2024 Softball America Player of the Year award while Canady won the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. Put those two on the same team, and Oklahoma is sweating.
#1 Oklahoma
If you can't beat them (Oklahoma), maybe it's time for Canady to join them. OU has won four straight WCWS titles with legendary coach Patty Gasso. Adding ostensibly the best player to already the best team would all but guarantee two more NCAA titles for OU.
Which school do you think NiJaree Canady will end up choosing? Weigh in below in the comments section with your thoughts: