Kara Braxton, Two-Time WNBA Champion, Passes Away At 43

Kara Braxton, who won two WNBA championships with the Detroit Shock, passed away on Saturday following a car crash in Cobb County, Ga. She was 43.

According to The Athletic, Braxton was driving on Interstate 285 south of Cobb Parkway late Saturday afternoon, when she failed to maintain her lane while she drive a  2023 Ford Mustang. Braxton struck a concrete median wall on the left shoulder of the highway. The vehicle reportedly continued along the barrier before coming to a rest.

After being transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Braxton was pronounced dead.

Jelani Thurman, Braxton’s son and current tight end at North Carolina, paid tribute to his mother on Instagram stories. He shared photos of himself and his mother throughout the years.

In a post on X, the WNBA shares its condolences to the family and friends of Braxton.

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the post read. “Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”

Standing 6-foot-6,  Braxton’s basketball prowess gained national prominence after she was named the Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year in high school. She attended the University of Georgia and was named the 2002 SEC Freshman of the Year and a First-team All-SEC selection.

BRAXTON HAD SUCCESS IN THE WNBA AND THOUGHOUT THE GLOBE

Drafted at number 7 in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock, she earned All-Rookie Team honors. Braxton was instrumental in two WNBA championships in 2006 and 2008. In 2007, she was selected as a WNBA All-Star.  In her 10 years in the league, Braxton played for the Shock (later the Tulsa Shock), Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty.

In addition to the WNBA, Braxton played in Poland, Turkey, China, and Italy through the 2017-18 season. She went on to win two Polish league championships. She was named the Chinese league MVP in 2010 and led her team to a championship. Braxton officially retired from basketball in 2019.