Kara Braxton, 2-time WNBA Champion With Detroit Shock, Dies at 43 After Atlanta-Area Car Crash

Longtime WNBA forward Kara Braxton has died at 43 after a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 285 in the Atlanta area. Braxton's death, confirmed by the league and her former teams, removes a two-time champion and decade-long presence from the women’s game; further specifics are not yet known and an investigation is ongoing.

Kara Braxton: Crash details and immediate aftermath

Braxton was driving alone on Interstate 285 on Saturday afternoon in the Atlanta area when her vehicle collided with the concrete median wall. Cobb County police said the vehicle continued against the wall until it came to a stop. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Further specifics of the crash or what led up to it are unclear in the provided context, and an investigation is ongoing.

Career highlights and championship pedigree

Kara Braxton was a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock, helping the franchise to titles in 2006 and 2008. She was a 10-season veteran who played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty. Braxton earned her only All-Star nod in 2007, averaging 6. 7 points and 5. 4 rebounds that season while the Shock reached the Finals and fell to the Phoenix Mercury.

Draft, statistics and overseas success

• Selected No. 7 overall in the 2005 draft out of Georgia.
• Career totals: averaged 7. 6 points and 4. 7 rebounds across 297 games.
• Won a pair of Polish league championships and was the Chinese league MVP in 2010.

WNBA career timeline and team moves

Braxton spent her first five full seasons with the Detroit Shock after being picked in 2005. She remained with the franchise when it moved to Tulsa, was dealt to Phoenix in 2010, and a year later moved to the New York Liberty. She spent her final four seasons with the Liberty before leaving the WNBA after the 2014 season. She was later waived by the Atlanta Dream before the 2016 season. Coverage that included game and roster images occasionally identified her with an age marker of 45 in photo captions.

Notable moments and archival game detail

One archival game caption details Detroit Shock players Plenette Pierson, Deanna Nolan, Cheryl Ford, Kara Braxton and Elaine Powell erupting as victory closed in to defeat San Antonio 76-60 for the WNBA championship at the Convocation Center on the Eastern Michigan University campus on Oct. 5, 2008.

Personal life, post-playing career and family

Braxton returned to Georgia to finish her degree and graduated in 2024. She worked for Nike for several years after retiring from basketball in 2019 and had 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.

Reactions and confirmations from league and teams

The league released a statement on Braxton’s death, and the league and her former teams confirmed her passing on Sunday. The New York Liberty issued a statement mourning her loss and noting that her presence and passion left a lasting impact on the organization and the women’s game. Recent coverage has included tributes and expressions of grief from Georgia basketball circles, noting Braxton played for the Lady Bulldogs from 2002–04.

Details in the public record include a timeline of confirmations that various organizations posted after the crash: some confirmations came on Sunday and the league issued a statement the following day. Investigators continue to examine the crash; further specifics remain unclear in the provided context and may evolve as the investigation proceeds.