Texas Tech softball stand-out pitcher NiJaree Canady made historical past by becoming the first school softball participant to launch her personal signature player-edition cleat in partnership with Adidas.
Canady, a senior and certainly one of school softball’s most adorned gamers, debuted her player-edition Adidas cleat, the ADIZERO Instinct 2.0 PT “NiJa,” throughout a sport in opposition to Fresno State on Feb. 19 on the Mary Nutter Classic.
In an Instagram publish, she shared her pleasure together with her followers, stating, “Such a dream come true! So extremely blessed and grateful to have the chance to come back out with my very own cleat!”
The cleat options pink stripes, very similar to the Adidas brand. Additionally, the cleat features Canady’s signature and jersey quantity. The customized design components honor each her function with the Texas Tech Red Raiders and her private model. It shall be accessible for buy later this season.
Her collaboration with Adidas is one side of the faculty athlete’s very profitable NIL settlement. Canady joined Adidas as a part of the inaugural “Team Mahomes” athlete cohort. The Team Mahomes cohort is a partnership with the model and NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes that helps NIL alternatives for Texas Tech athletes.
The 2024 inaugural cohort of Team Mahomes consists of different school superstars throughout sports activities, together with Micah Hudson (Football), Jasmine Shavers (Basketball), Matthew Comegys (Golf), Sam Courtwright (Soccer), and TJ Pompey (Baseball), based on Texas Tech.
Sports analysts and media retailers described the cleat release as historic as a result of no earlier school softball participant has had a player-edition shoe from a significant athletic model. Sports Illustrated reported that the cleat launch “makes NIL historical past” for the game.
Canady’s influence extends past her NIL offers. She has been a central determine at Texas Tech, main the Red Raiders to the Women’s College World Series finals in 2025, the place she earned nationwide recognition for her efficiency. Her collegiate profession consists of accolades corresponding to Softball America First Team All-American and numerous convention honors.
Canady’s Adidas cleat breaks a glass ceiling for girls’s school athletes, gaining model fairness and market affect by NIL partnerships.
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