Kara Braxton, who achieved significant success in the WNBA by clinching two championships with the Detroit Shock and concluding her playing days with the New York Liberty, has passed away.
The former basketball star, also a devoted mother of two, celebrated her 43rd birthday on February 18.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA Champion,” the league shared in a statement on Sunday. “Kara was a seasoned player with a decade-long career, representing teams like the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our condolences go out to her loved ones, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time.”
Although no official cause of death was immediately released, reports from The Oregonian, referencing local sources, indicated that she tragically died in a car accident in Atlanta.
During her high school years at Westview in Oregon, Braxton gained recognition as one of the most outstanding basketball talents in the state’s history, according to The Oregonian.
The 6-foot-6 center concluded her illustrious 10-season WNBA tenure with the New York Liberty in 2014, after being acquired in a trade from the Detroit Shock during the 2011 season.
She is survived by sons Jelani Thurman, who played football for Ohio State University, and Jrem Jackson, as well as husband Jarvis Jackson and her twin sister, Kim, who also played basketball alongside her.
