Potential transfer portal destinations for Stanford’s NiJaree Canady disclosed
Washington softball legend Danielle Lawrie, a two-time USA Softball Player of the Year and two-time Olympian, discussed potential transfer destinations for Stanford ace NiJaree Canady.
She mentioned the obvious choice, the four-time defending champion Oklahoma Sooners, but noted that while Canady may have her own preferences, Lawrie personally wouldn’t want to join a team losing 10 seniors. Instead, she would be interested in making her mark on a new contender. Texas was also part of the discussion, but the Longhorns have a well-established pitching staff, which might be a challenge Canady would prefer to avoid.
Lawrie highlighted the advantages of Florida State, especially the exceptional pitching coaching of Lonni Alameda, who coached Lawrie in the Olympics. Several other schools were mentioned, but Lawrie concluded by emphasizing the importance of winning, making Oklahoma a likely destination for Canady, the National Collegiate Player of the Year.
Canady’s 2023 season was unforgettable, with 337 strikeouts over 230.2 innings and an ERA of 0.73. Lawrie was particularly impressed, stating that she considers Canady “one of the top five best pitchers [she has] ever seen in person,” noting the former Stanford ace’s extraordinary power as unparalleled in softball history.
Wherever Canady goes next, her time at Stanford will be remembered as one of the program’s greatest, even though she didn’t quite lead the Cardinal to the top. Replacing her contributions will be incredibly difficult, making it a high priority for the coaching staff this offseason.
