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WNBA Champion Kara Braxton Passes Away at 43
The WNBA community is mourning the loss of former star Kara Braxton, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 43. A dominant force on the court, Braxton was a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock and a standout player at the University of Georgia. The cause of death has not been released.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the WNBA stated in an official announcement. “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.”
Braxton, a 6-foot-6 forward/center, began her illustrious basketball career at Westview High School in Portland, Oregon, before becoming a Georgia Bulldog in 2002. She quickly made her mark, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors while averaging an impressive 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game.
Throughout her 71 appearances for the Bulldogs, Braxton maintained averages of 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. Despite her on-court success, her collegiate career was marked by multiple suspensions and ultimately her dismissal from the team in 2004 for repeated policy violations.
Selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock, Braxton quickly transitioned her talent to the professional level. She was named to the All-Rookie team in 2005 and secured her first WNBA championship with the Shock in 2006.
Her career continued to ascend, earning All-Star recognition and a second championship title in 2007. Over 297 career WNBA appearances, Braxton averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Braxton is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and her sons, Jelani Thurman and Jream Jackson. Jelani Thurman, a tight end, previously played for Ohio State and recently announced his transfer to North Carolina.
He is the son of former Georgia Bulldogs and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman. Jelani honored his mother on Instagram on Sunday, posting several photos and videos with the heartfelt message, “Imma miss my queen!”