First Ever Texas Tech Softball Player Drafted to Pro League

Texas Tech softball star pitcher NiJaree Canady continues to make headlines, this time for being the No. 2 draft for the big league team, the Texas Volts.

Canady Continuing to Make History

You may have heard of NiJaree Canady after joining junior pitcher Kaitlyn Terry last week as being the first duo in Texas Tech history to each earn 20 wins.

Well, Canady has made the headlines yet again following the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) 2026 draft. Canady was the No. 2 overall pick for the Texas Volts, and she was the first ever Red Raider to be drafted into the AUSL.

Who is NiJaree Canady?

According to the latest from Texas Tech Softball news, Canady, a Topeka, Kansas, native, is the only active player with 1,000 career strikeouts and 96 wins. With a career ERA (earned run average) of 0.95, Canady was among the National Player of the Year Top 25 finalists every season for the past four seasons.

Her impressive list of awards also includes 2023 Freshman of the Year, 2025 Big 12 Pitcher and Female Athlete of the Year, 2025 USA Today Kansas Woman of the Year, and so many more that you can read from the Texas Tech Athletics website.

Canady was joined by 16 other athletes in the May 4 draft.

Who Are the Texas Volts?

The professional team that drafted NiJaree Canady, the Texas Volts, are a brand new big league softball team, having just been formed in 2025.

The Volts finished third place last season in the AUSL at 8 and 16, overall. The 2026 season begins on June 9 in Oklahoma City as the team prepares to face the Oklahoma City Spark.