Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The WNBA community is mourning the loss of two-time champion Kara Braxton, who has died at the age of 43.
The league announced her passing Sunday night (February 22), writing, “It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton. 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.”
No cause of death has been publicly released.
Braxton entered the league as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft and quickly carved out a role as a strong, physical presence in the paint. She earned WNBA All-Rookie Team honors in her debut season after averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds off the bench for the Detroit Shock.
She went on to win two WNBA championships with Detroit — first in 2006 and again in 2008 — becoming part of one of the league’s most dominant teams of that era. During the 2008 postseason, Braxton started nine playoff games, delivering some of the most impactful performances of her career as the Shock secured their second title in three seasons.
When the franchise relocated to Tulsa, she remained with the organization before later spending time with the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty. Her most productive offensive stretch came during the 2010 and 2011 seasons in Phoenix, where she averaged double figures in scoring across portions of both campaigns.
Braxton closed out her career with the Liberty, starting 33 games in 2013 — the largest role of her professional run — and posting a career-best 6.6 rebounds per game that season. She last appeared in the league in 2014, capping a decade-long WNBA journey.
Before turning pro, Braxton starred at the University of Georgia, where she was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002 after averaging 16.3 points per game. A native of Michigan, she and her twin sister, Kim, moved to Oregon as teenagers and attended Westview High School in Portland. As a senior, Kara was named Oregon’s Gatorade Player of the Year, solidifying her status as one of the state’s top prospects.
Beyond her accolades, those who played alongside her often pointed to her intensity, toughness, and presence in the locker room — the kind of teammate who helped set a tone.
Braxton is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and her two sons, Jelani Thurman and Jream Jackson.
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