02/23/26 12:53:00
Printable Page
02/23 12:52 CST 2-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton dies at 43 after being in a
car crash
2-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton dies at 43 after being in a car crash
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
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."
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.
___
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
|
