NiJaree Canady Signs AUSL Deal After Brief Holdout

Following three days of a contract holdout, former Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady has signed with Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Canady, who was drafted second overall in this year’s AUSL draft by the Texas Volts, was the only player out of 17 draftees to have not signed with the league when the season kicked off on Tuesday. She missed the Volts’ first two games, but will be eligible to play during their Saturday contest.

In Lubbock, Canady made over $1 million annually in NIL money.

A source familiar with the situation told Front Office Sports her contract terms are consistent with that of the other AUSL rookies. Players can make up to $75,000 annually.

Lindsay Colas, Canady’s agent at The Team (formerly known as Wasserman), initially told Front Office Sports on Wednesday night that the pitcher sought out a “fair and equitable contract” in a lengthy statement. That statement prompted widespread discourse throughout the softball community, with many criticizing Canady’s decision to stall.

“If I (and everyone that paved the way for me) waited for what I believed was “a fair and equitable contract”….there wouldn’t be pro softball,” wrote Victoria Hayward, the head coach for Nevada softball who played for AUSL’s Utah Talons in 2025, in an X post that garnered over 1,400 likes.

However, several prominent softball voices also defended Canady, such as former LSU and pro softball player A.J. Andrews , Howard coach Tori Tyson , and UCLA alum-turned catchers’ coach Jen Schroeder , who believed Canady’s negotiations could open the door for all pro softball players to be paid more.

Colas sent reporters a revised statement Thursday afternoon, which stated that Canady looked forward to joining her team upon finalizing a contract, rather than “a fair and equitable” contract. It also read “it’s about what you owe the sport and everyone coming after you” instead of “it’s about setting a standard and advocating for their value.”