In less than the last two years, Texas Tech softball pitcher NiJaree Canady has made history — twice.
Prior to the 2025 season, Canady became the first softball player to secure a seven-figure deal when she transferred from Stanford to Texas Tech. Then, during the 2025 Women’s College World Series, she signed another deal worth even more.
Canady remains as the only college softball player in the millionaire club, but she’s helped open the door for significant earning potential for other players across the country.
Here’s a look at the projected top NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) earners for the 2026 college softball season.
NiJaree Canady, Pitcher — Texas Tech
Her initial deal with The Matador Club (Texas Tech’s collective), was worth $1,050,024. The breakdown of that was $1 million in base pay, $50,000 for living expenses and a symbolic $24 to represent Canady’s jersey number. That expenditure was well worth it as Canady led the Red Raiders to the first Women’s College World Series berth in program history. During the World Series, Canady was given another deal that reportedly is worth at least $1.2 million. Since then, she’s added to her growing NIL profile by becoming a brand ambassador for Venmo. Canady is a major reason why the Red Raiders share the No. 1 spot with Texas in the preseason rankings.
Support NiJaree on RallyFuel | Texas Tech Softball
Jordy Frahm, Pitcher — Nebraska
Formerly known as Jordy Bahl, she became Jordy Frahm in August of 2025 when she married former Nebraska baseball player Trey Frahm. She was selected as the Most Outstanding Player in the 2023 Women’s College World Series while playing for Oklahoma. But Frahm got a lucrative deal to transfer to Nebraska before the 2024 season. That season was cut short by a torn ACL, but Frahm bounced back in 2025 by posting a 26-8 record on the mound. But Frahm is more than a pitcher. She’s also a force with the bat. In 2025, she became just the fourth player in NCAA history to win at least 20 games and hit at least 20 home runs in the same season. Playing for a traditional powerhouse in a state where softball is extremely popular, Frahm has an extensive NIL portfolio that includes partnerships with EA Sports, Midwest Bank, Mizuno and Anderson Ford of Lincoln. Her NIL valuation is estimated to be in the mid-six figures.
Support Nebraska Softball on RallyFuel
Karlyn Pickens, Pitcher — Tennessee
Pickens is the Nolan Ryan of college softball. During the 2025 season, Pickens had her fastball clocked at 79.4 miles per hour to establish a new NCAA record for fastest pitch ever thrown in a game. Pickens went 22-8 with 252 strikeouts in 186 innings and was named Pitcher of the Year by Softball America last season. Pickens has no less than 11 reported NIL deals. The most recent came earlier this week when Pickens signed a deal with Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
Support Karlyn on RallyFuel | Tennessee Softball
Jordan Woolery, Infielder — UCLA
A career .380 hitter with 43 home runs, Woolery is back for her senior season with the 10th-ranked Bruins. Her jersey and other apparel rank among the top sellers on NIL Store.
Support Jordan on RallyFuel | UCLA Softball
Teagan Kavan, Pitcher — Texas
As a sophomore last season, Kavan was named Most Outstanding Player as the Longhorns won the Women’s College World Series. She went 28-5 with 227 strikeouts and 18 complete games. During the second round of the series, Kavan drew national attention for her courage in pitching just several hours after her grandmother died.
Support Teagan on RallyFuel | Texas Softball
Taylor Shumaker, Outfielder — Florida
This sophomore is college softball’s definition of a five-tool player. Shumaker can do everything extremely well and she did just that last year when she was chosen as National Freshman of the Year. She batted .389 and led the Gators in home runs, doubles and runs batted in while successfully stealing 18 bases in 19 attempts. Her NIL profile is rapidly climbing and her “Shumakin’ It Happen” T-shirt is a popular NIL Store seller.
Support Florida Softball on RallyFuel
Ella Parker, First Base/Designated Hitter — Oklahoma
The Sooners have one of the nation’s top power combinations in Parker and Kasidi Pickering. As a sophomore in 2025, Parker hit .423 with 15 home runs and had a .789 slugging percentage. She returns after helping the Sooners to a runner-up to Texas in last season’s Women’s College World Series.
Support Ella on RallyFuel | Oklahoma Softball
Kasadi Pickering, Outfielder — Oklahoma
Pickering and Parker are big reasons why the Sooners are ranked No. 3 in the 2026 preseason poll. Pickering hit .392 with 18 home runs while posting an .801 slugging percentage last season. She has an NIL deal with Athlete’s Thread for a unique line of jerseys, hoodies and t-shirts.
Support Oklahoma Softball on RallyFuel
Reese Atwood, Catcher — Texas
The 2024 Softball America Player of the Year, hit .393 with a team-best 21 home runs and an .822 slugging percentage in 2025. Rival Texas Tech reportedly attempted to get Atwood to transfer after last season, but she elected to stay in Austin where she has a high NIL profile while playing for the defending national champions.
Support Reese on RallyFuel | Texas Softball
Isa Torres, Shortstop — Florida State
A returning All-American, Torres is outstanding in the field and just as good with the bat. Last season, she set a school record by batting .436. She made only nine errors in 197 chances. With the Seminoles ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll, Torres should have plenty of opportunities for NIL deals.
Support Isa on RallyFuel | Florida State Softball
Related Links
- College Softball NIL: How Fans Support Players Through RallyFuel
- NiJaree Canady Becomes Softball’s First Million-Dollar NIL Athlete
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
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