The WNBA has announced the death of former All-Star and two-time champion Kara Braxton, a dominant post player who spent a decade in the league. She was 43. No cause of death was disclosed.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the league said in a statement shared on social media. “Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”
Braxton, a 6-foot-6 power forward, was selected No. 7 overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock. She quickly made an impact, earning All-Rookie Team honors after averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in her debut season.
She went on to win WNBA championships with Detroit in 2006 and 2008, becoming known for her physical presence in the paint and rebounding ability.
During her career, she also played for the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty, as well as the Tulsa franchise after the Shock relocated.
Beyond the WNBA, Braxton competed professionally overseas in Poland, Turkey, China, and Italy, extending her playing career through the 2017–18 season.
Born on Feb. 18, 1983, in Jackson, Michigan, Braxton attended high school in both Michigan and Oregon, where she was named Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. She later played college basketball at the University of Georgia before leaving the program during her junior season.
After retiring from professional basketball, Braxton worked for Nike in Oregon and later moved to the Atlanta area.
Her son, Jelani Thurman, was part of the Ohio State Buckeyes football national championship team in 2024, playing tight end.
Braxton is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and her two sons.
