Former WNBA Player Kara Braxton Reported Dead At 43

[ad_1] by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton February 23, 2026

No reason for dying was reported

The WNBA introduced that certainly one of its former gamers, Kara Braxton, a two-time champion with the Detroit Shock, has died at age 43.

Though no reason for dying was listed, the league acknowledged that she performed for varied groups all through her 10-season profession, together with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty.

It's with profound unhappiness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton.

A ten-season veteran, Kara performed with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our ideas are together with her household, mates, and former teammates right now. pic.twitter.com/0I71xWCWfW

— WNBA (@WNBA) February 23, 2026

In keeping with WRGZ, Braxton, who performed her collegiate profession on the College of Georgia, was chosen because the No. 7 total choose within the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock. She performed for the varsity for two-and-a-half seasons earlier than getting into the draft. She she hailed from Jackson, Michigan, and attended an area highschool earlier than transferring to Westview Excessive College in Portland, Oregon. Braxton earned Oregon Gatorade Participant of the 12 months honors in her senior 12 months on the college.

After her first 12 months within the WNBA, she was named to the WNBA All-Rookie workforce in 2005 (averaging 6.9 factors and three rebounds as a key reserve) and have become an All-Star in 2007. She helped the Detroit Shock win two championships, first in 2006 after which once more in 2008.

She then performed for the Mercury in 2010 after the Shock traded her. She performed in 31 video games with the workforce earlier than being traded to New York in 2011, the place she began in 18 video games and averaged 10.8 factors and 4.9 rebounds.

Throughout Braxton’s WNBA profession, she averaged 7.6 factors and 4.7 rebounds.

After retiring from the game, Braxton labored for Nike in Oregon earlier than relocating to the Atlanta space.

Braxton is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and her two sons, Jelani Thurman (who performed tight finish for Ohio State whereas the workforce received the nationwide championship in 2024, Thurman transferred to North Carolina in January) and Jream Jackson, in addition to her twin sister, Kim.