Canady spearheads a star-studded Red Raiders quartet, igniting excitement for their No. 1-ranked 2026 season. Dominance redefined.
If preseason polls were decided by swagger alone, Texas Tech Red Raiders would still be sitting comfortably at the top.
On Tuesday, Softball America made it official, slotting Texas Tech No. 1 in its first Top 25 poll of the 2026 season and backing it up with serious hardware.
Four Red Raiders earned preseason All-American honors, a not-so-subtle reminder that last year’s historic run wasn’t a one-off; it was a foundation.
At the center of it all is NiJaree Canady, who somehow continues to raise the bar on what dominance looks like.
Canady landed on the Preseason First Team once again, marking her third straight appearance and second consecutive season as a first-team selection.
Joining Canady on the First Team are Taylor Pannell and Mia Williams, a milestone moment for the program. Until recently, First Team All-Americans were rare air in Lubbock. Now? Texas Tech is stacking them like depth chart bullet points.
And then there’s Mihyia Davis, who grabbed Preseason Second Team honors and might quietly be the most dangerous name on the list.
Coming off a junior season that rewrote the program’s record book with 93 hits, 66 runs, and a highlight reel of defensive gems, Davis enters 2026 with tremendous expectations.
What makes this group especially intriguing is how it fits into the bigger picture.
Texas Tech finished last season No. 2 nationally, the highest ranking in school history, and spent much of the year bullying its way through the top 15.
That kind of success changes mindsets.
For fans and aspiring players alike, there’s a lesson here that goes beyond rankings: sustained success comes from retention, development, and stars who elevate everyone around them.
Tech has all three.
If you’re looking for optimism heading into opening weekend, start here ... elite pitching, proven bats, and a roster that knows exactly what No. 1 feels like.
Now comes the hard part ... living up to it.