We have some devastating news.
Former WNBA All-Star and two-time champion Kara Braxton passed away on February 21, 2026, following a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 285 near Atlanta.
Authorities reported that Braxton, 43, was driving a 2023 Ford Mustang when her vehicle struck a concrete median wall around 5 p.m. The car continued against the concrete wall before coming to rest on the left shoulder. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. The crash remains under investigation.
The basketball community mourns the loss of a champion, teammate, and loving mother gone far too soon.
“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,” the WNBA shared on X.
🏆 Career & Legacy
A two-time WNBA champion, Braxton was drafted 7th overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detriot Shock. During her 10-season career, she also played for:
She earned WNBA All-Rookie Team honors in 2005 and helped Detroit capture two championships (2006, 2008). Known for her physical presence in the paint, Braxton was a fierce competitor who left a lasting mark on the league.
Before turning professional, she starred at the University of Georgia, where she was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002.
💛 Family & Tribute
Off the court, Braxton was a devoted wife and mother. She is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, her two sons — including Jelani Thurman — and her twin sister, Kim.
Her son, Jelani Thurman, who played tight end for the Ohio State Buckeyes football national championship team in 2024 and recently transferred to the North Carolina Tar Heels football, honored his mother on social media, writing:
“Imma miss my queen,”
alongside a photo of himself with her No. 45 Shock jersey.’
The basketball community continues to mourn the loss of a beloved champion and mother.
Rest in Paradise, Kara Braxton. 🕊️
