Skip to main content
Join Now

Patrick Mahomes reacts to NiJaree Canady's WCWS shutout vs. Ole Miss

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz05/30/25NickSchultz_7
Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady
© Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As the Women’s College World Series got underway Thursday, NiJaree Canady spun a gem. The Texas Tech star flirted with a perfect game before completing the shutout against Ole Miss – and Red Raiders great Patrick Mahomes was impressed.

Mahomes reacted to Canady’s performance after Texas Tech completed the thrilling 1-0 victory in its first-ever WCWS game. She became the first pitcher since Monica Abbott at Tennessee in 2005 to throw a shutout in her team’s first-ever trip to Oklahoma City, and she allowed just two hits to keep the Red Raiders in the winner’s bracket.

Mahomes sure liked what he saw. He quickly shared a post on X celebrating Canady’s performance against Ole Miss.

Canady arrived at Texas Tech this year after transferring from Stanford and made an immediate impact on the Red Raiders. With her win Thursday night, she now has a 31-5 record and entered Thursday with a 0.89 ERA, which led the nation. After throwing a shutout, that number will continue to go down.

Canady repeated as NFCA National Pitcher of the Year and earned a second straight First Team All-American selection. She was also the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year as she helped the Red Raiders not only host, but also reach the Women’s College World Series for the first time. Now, they’re advancing in the women’s bracket.

NiJaree Canady, Patrick Mahomes connected through NIL

Upon her arrival at Texas Tech, NiJaree Canady inked a seven-figure NIL deal with the Red Raiders-focused NIL collective, The Matador Club. She was also one of six Texas Tech athletes to sign NIL deals with adidas and Patrick Mahomes as part of his “Team Mahomes” initiative.

Canady joined Red Raiders athletes such as Micah Hudson and Jasmine Shavers as part of “Team Mahomes” this year. It’s part of the Kansas City Chiefs star’s plan to give back to his alma mater as part of his partnership with adidas.

Throughout Thursday’s game, Mahomes was posting on social media reacting to Canady’s performance. Afterward, ESPN’s Taylor McGregor told her he was watching and asked if she had a message. Canady kept it simple.

“Hi,” she said into the camera. “Thanks for watching.”

Texas Tech will now advance in the Women’s College World Series bracket and await the winner of Oregon vs. UCLA. That game will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.