By DOUG FEINBERG, AP Basketball Author
Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton died after being in a automobile crash in Atlanta on Saturday. She was 43.
The athletic division at Georgia, the place Braxton performed in faculty, texted The Related Press affirmation of her demise on Monday and posted on social media. Her son, Jelani Thurman, posted a photograph of his youthful self in his mom’s jersey on social media and wrote that he we’ll miss his “queen.”
Braxton final performed within the WNBA in 2014 whereas ending up a four-year stint with New York. She received two titles with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008.
She celebrated her birthday final week.
“It’s with profound unhappiness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the league stated on social media on Sunday evening. “A ten-season veteran, Kara performed with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our ideas are along with her household, mates, and former teammates right now.”
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FILE – Kara Braxton, left, holds up a Detroit Shock jersey with WNBA President Donna Orender after the Shock chosen her as their first spherical choose, seventh general within the WNBA draft, April 16, 2005, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photograph/Invoice Kostroun, file)
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FILE – Kara Braxton, left, holds up a Detroit Shock jersey with WNBA President Donna Orender after the Shock chosen her as their first spherical choose, seventh general within the WNBA draft, April 16, 2005, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photograph/Invoice Kostroun, file)
The 6-foot-6 Braxton was drafted by Detroit with the seventh choose in 2005. She earned All-Rookie honors that season after averaging 6.9 factors and three.0 rebounds.
She performed half of a season with the franchise when it moved to Tulsa in 2010 earlier than getting traded to Phoenix for the second half of the yr.
Braxton then performed the primary 18 video games in Phoenix in 2011 earlier than being acquired by New York. She performed with the Liberty till 2014 when she was waived after enjoying 4 video games.
“We mourn the lack of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty participant whose presence and keenness left a long-lasting affect on our group and the ladies’s sport,” the Liberty posted on social media.
Braxton was SEC Freshman of the 12 months for Georgia in 2002.
Thurman performed soccer for Ohio State and received a nationwide championship with the Buckeyes in 2024. He has since transferred to North Carolina.
Braxton can also be survived by her husband Jarvis Jackson and their younger son Jream.
