Topeka High alum NiJaree Canady drafted No. 2 in 2026 AUSL Draft

Topeka native NiJaree Canady is going pro. The Athletes Unlimited Softball League held its 2026 draft on Monday night, and the Topeka High School graduate was chosen second overall by the Texas Volts. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens was the lone player drafted before Canady.

Canady was a standout two-sport athlete for Topeka High, dominating in softball and basketball. She led the Trojans to their first two state championships in softball during her junior and senior years, and she was also named the Kansas Softball Gatorade Player of the Year both of these seasons. The former Trojan's superstardom has continued at the collegiate level, first for Stanford and now for Texas Tech.

Canady has led the Red Raiders this season with a 21-4 record and a 1. 30 ERA, tallying 194 strikeouts to just 39 walks in 135 innings pitched. She was the first of 17 players to earn a "Golden Ticket" into the AUSL draft from commissioner Kim Ng earlier this year.

The AUSL season begins June 9 with each team scheduled to play 25 games through the regular season. The championship is set for July 25. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Topeka native NiJaree Canady drafted No.