2-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton dies at 43 after being in a car crash
[February 24, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton died after being in
a car crash in Atlanta on Saturday. She was 43.
The athletic department at Georgia, where Braxton played in college,
texted The Associated Press confirmation of her death on Monday and
posted on social media. Her son, Jelani Thurman, posted a photo of his
younger self in his mother's jersey on social media and wrote that he we
will miss his “queen.” |
New York Liberty's Kara Braxton is fouled by Connecticut Sun's Kalana
Greene during a WNBA exhibition basketball game, May 7, 2012, in
Uncasville, Conn. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day via AP) |
|
Braxton last played in the WNBA in 2014 while finishing up a
four-year stint with New York. She won two titles with the
Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008.
She celebrated her birthday last week.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x
WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the league said on social media on
Sunday night. “A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit
Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our
thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at
this time.”
The 6-foot-6 Braxton was drafted by Detroit with the seventh
pick in 2005. She earned All-Rookie honors that season after
averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds.
She played half of a season with the franchise when it moved to
Tulsa in 2010 before getting traded to Phoenix for the second
half of the year.
Braxton then played the first 18 games in Phoenix in 2011 before
being acquired by New York. She played with the Liberty until
2014 when she was waived after playing four games.
“We mourn the loss of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty player
whose presence and passion left a lasting impact on our
organization and the women's game,” the Liberty posted on social
media.
Braxton was SEC Freshman of the Year for Georgia in 2002.
Thurman played football for Ohio State and won a national
championship with the Buckeyes in 2024. He has since transferred
to North Carolina.
Braxton is also survived by her husband Jarvis Jackson and their
young son Jream.
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