LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A week of recognition for Stanford softball ace NiJaree Canady continued Wednesday afternoon at the Women's College World Series press conference. Canady earned unanimous First Team All-America honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the first time in her career landing these honors.
It has been a banner week for Canady, who's recognition from the NFCA is just another in a long line of awards handed out prior to the start of the Women's College World Series. Earlier in the week, she was named First Team All-America by D1 Softball and Softball America, while taking home Softball America Pitcher of the Year honors. Then, during the awards banquet prior to the start of the Women's College World Series, with the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, becoming the second Cardinal to win the award (Ashley Hansen, 2011).
The numbers back up the awards for Canady. She enters the Women's College World Series leading the nation with a 0.65 earned run average, while also pacing the country with 310 strikeouts. She is second in the NCAA in strikeouts per seven innings (10.6) and hits allowed per seven innings (3.39). Canady has allowed multiple runs in a game only three times in 34 appearances, helping her to a 23-5 record.
In just two seasons on The Farm, Canady's list of accolades is astonishing. Some of the major hardware includes the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and NFCA Freshman of the Year. The Topeka, Kan. product has been named to two All-Pac-12 First Teams, an NFCA All-Region First Team (2024), the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2024), Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2023), two Pac-12 All-Tournament Teams and the 2023 Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.
Six others from the Pac-12 were honored by the NFCA on Wednesday. Five total All-America selections were unanimous, including Canady. Jocelyn Erickson (Florida), Shaylon Govan (Baylor), Claire Davidson (Duke) and Reese Atwood (Texas) are the other four that join Canady as unanimous All-America selections.
Canady and the Cardinal begin their run at the Women's College World Series this week, opening against Texas on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. PT on ESPN2.