Kara Braxton, 2-time WNBA champion with Detroit Shock, dies at 43 in Atlanta-area crash
Longtime forward kara braxton, a two-time WNBA champion, died after a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 285 on Saturday afternoon in the Atlanta area. The collision, which left her vehicle pressed against a concrete median wall, prompted emergency treatment but she was pronounced dead at a local hospital; authorities say an investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Interstate 285 crash in the Atlanta area
Cobb County police say Braxton was driving alone on Interstate 285 on Saturday afternoon when her vehicle collided with a concrete median wall and continued against the barrier until it came to a stop. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Further specifics of the crash and what led up to it are unclear in the provided context, and an investigation has been opened.
Cobb County police, WNBA response and team confirmations
The league and Braxton’s former teams confirmed her death on Sunday, and the WNBA issued a statement on Monday mourning the passing of the two-time champion. The New York Liberty also released a statement expressing sorrow and extended condolences to her family, teammates and others touched by her career.
Detroit Shock championships in 2006 and 2008
Selected No. 7 overall in the 2005 draft out of Georgia, Braxton spent her first five full seasons with the Detroit Shock and helped that club capture WNBA titles in 2006 and 2008. She earned her lone All-Star nod in 2007, averaging 6. 7 points and 5. 4 rebounds that season as the Shock reached the Finals before falling to the Phoenix Mercury.
Kara Braxton's WNBA career, transactions and statistics
Described as a 10-season veteran, Kara Braxton played for the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty. After the Shock moved to Tulsa, she was dealt to Phoenix in 2010 and was moved a year later to the New York Liberty, where she spent the final four seasons of her career before leaving after the 2014 season. She was later waived by the Atlanta Dream before the 2016 season.
Across 297 career games, Braxton averaged 7. 6 points and 4. 7 rebounds. She also spent seasons overseas, where she won two Polish league championships and was the Chinese league MVP in 2010. Following her playing career she retired in 2019 and worked for Nike for several years.
Return to Georgia, family and post-career life
Braxton returned to Georgia to finish her degree and graduated in 2024. She had relocated to the Atlanta area after her playing days. 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.
What makes this notable is the juxtaposition of a career that included two WNBA championships and overseas honors with recent personal milestones—completing a college degree in 2024 and a post-retirement role in the sporting industry—before her sudden death at age 43. The collision with the median wall set in motion emergency response, hospitalization and the ongoing investigation that now seeks to clarify the circumstances of her death.
