Kara Braxton, 2-time WNBA champion with Detroit Shock, kara braxton dies at 43
Longtime WNBA forward kara braxton, who won a pair of titles with the Detroit Shock, died Sunday. She was 43, and further specifics of her death are not yet known.
Kara Braxton's WNBA career
The league and her former teams confirmed the passing of the 10-season veteran. A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. The Shock selected her with the No. 7 overall draft pick in 2005, and she spent her first five full seasons in the league with the organization.
Detroit Shock championships and Finals
Braxton helped the Shock win a pair of WNBA championships, first in 2006 and again in 2008. She earned her only All-Star nod during the 2007 campaign and averaged 6. 7 points and 5. 4 rebounds that season. The Shock reached the Finals that summer before falling to the Phoenix Mercury.
Trades, seasons, and statistics
After the Shock moved to Tulsa, Braxton was dealt to Phoenix in 2010. She was moved a year later to the New York Liberty, where she spent her final four seasons before she left after the 2014 season. In total, Braxton averaged 7. 6 points and 4. 7 rebounds in 297 games throughout her career.
International play and honors
Outside the WNBA, Braxton won a pair of Polish league championships and was the Chinese league MVP in 2010. The record of those championships and the 2010 Chinese league MVP honor are part of her professional résumé.
College, graduation and recognition
Braxton had a dominant run at Georgia, where she was the SEC's Rookie of the Year and played from 2002-04. She later returned to Georgia to finish her degree and graduate in 2024. On February 23, 2026, Georgia posted a message mourning the loss and noting her years as a Lady Bulldog.
Family, post-playing life
Braxton worked for Nike for several years after retiring from basketball in 2019 and relocated to the Atlanta area. She is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and their young son, Jream. Her oldest son, Jelani Thurman, is a tight end who spent the past three seasons at Ohio State, won a national title with the Buckeyes in 2024, and has since transferred to North Carolina.
It is with profound sadness that the basketball community mourns the passing of Kara Braxton. Further specifics surrounding her death remain unclear in the provided context.
