Oklahoma Misses Out on NiJaree Canady Recruitment
The former Stanford star is making a move, but she won’t be heading to the Sooners in the SEC.
The top prize in the transfer portal has been claimed, and it didn’t go Patty Gasso’s way.
Stanford transfer and 2024 USA Softball Player of the Year, NiJaree Canady, announced her commitment to Texas Tech in a post on X on Wednesday.
Oklahoma, like nearly every other program nationwide, was eager to recruit her after the dominant pitcher entered the transfer portal.
Instead, the Sooners opted for two pitchers from smaller conferences to complete their pitching lineup.
A strong sign that Canady was likely moving on from Norman came when Louisiana transfer Sam Landry declared her commitment to the Sooners on July 13.
Landry had an impressive season last year, pitching 194 innings, striking out 165 batters, and issuing only 65 walks, ending with a 2.08 ERA.
In late June, Gasso also secured the commitment of former Campbell pitcher Isabella Smith.
Campbell recorded a 2.01 ERA in 2024, pitching 206 innings with 238 strikeouts and 69 walks.
Both Landry and Campbell have one year of eligibility left.
They will join Kierston Deal, who expanded her role significantly for the Sooners in 2024, along with reliever Paytn Monticelli and true freshman Audrey Lowry, to round out Jennifer Rocha’s pitching staff at OU.
