Kara Braxton, WNBA Champion, Dead at 43

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The WNBA is mourning one of its own.

Kara Braxton, a former WNBA player who won two championships with the Detroit Shock, has passed away, the league announced. She was 43 years old.

The WNBA announced with deep sorrow the death of Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion. Braxton played for 10 seasons with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty.

We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time.

Braxton’s cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Braxton played basketball for the University of Georgia from 2001 to 2004. In April 2005, she was drafted seventh overall by the Shock in the WNBA draft, just four months after having her son, Jelani Thurman, with Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman.

In her first year playing in the WNBA, she was selected for the All-Rookie team. She later helped lead the Detroit team to championships in both 2006 and 2008.

The 6’6″ center-forward, who had a twin sister named Kim Braxton, played for the Tulsa Shock after the team relocated. She was later traded to the Phoenix Mercury and finished her WNBA career with the New York Liberty in 2014.

I was so incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Kara Braxton. As a huge Liberty fan, I always admired her energy and how much she loved the game. She truly left her mark on the team and women’s basketball as a whole. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved her – she’ll never be forgotten.

Between 2017 and 2018, Braxton played basketball professionally in Europe and China. After retiring, she worked for Nike in Portland before eventually moving to Atlanta, according to USA Today.

He is survived by his husband, Jarvis Jackson, their son, Jream Jackson, and his son Jelani Jackson, a tight end who played on the 2024 Ohio State national championship team.

After playing basketball professionally in Europe and China from 2017 to 2018, Braxton retired and initially moved to Portland to work at Nike. She later settled in Atlanta, according to USA Today.

He is survived by his husband, Jarvis Jackson, their son, Jream Jackson, and his son Jelani Jackson, who played tight end on the 2024 Ohio State national championship football team.

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2026-02-23 18:17