Two-Time WNBA Champion Kara Braxton Tragically Dies at 43

Summary:

• Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock, has died at the age of 43.
• She played 10 seasons in the league after being drafted seventh overall in 2005.
• Braxton earned All-Star honors in 2007 and also played for the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty.

Kara Braxton, who helped the Detroit Shock win two WBNA championships, has tragically passed away at the age of 43. The cause of death has not yet been revealed to the public.

However, reports in the media indicate that the iconic player was involved in a car accident in Atlanta that sadly claimed her life.

The 6-foot-6 player built her reputation as a strong presence in the paint, playing both center and forward. She first made a name for herself in college with the Georgia Bulldogs, and she was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002, quickly becoming one of the program’s top players.

Detroit Shock selected her seventh overall in the 2005 WNBA draft, and her impact was immediate, as she earned a spot on the league’s all-rookie team. She was also part of championship-winning teams in 2006 and 2008 and earned All-Star honours in 2007.

Later in her career, Braxton played for several other teams, including the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty, where she officially ended her career in 2014. Over the course of 10 seasons, she averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Off-Court Mentions

Off the court, basketball remained part of her family’s life. Her son, Jelani Thurman, has been playing college football and recently transferred from the Ohio State Buckeyes to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Two decades after Braxton concluded her college career in Georgia, she graduated which was lifelong dream .

It has always been a goal of mine to come back and finish school, and finish what I started. It’s a very exciting time for me right now

Braxton will be remembered as a key contributor to Detroit’s success and as a player who carved out a long career in the league.