WNBA Champion Kara Braxton Passes Away at 43

She had just walked across the graduation stage less than two years ago, finally completing a goal she had carried for decades, and now, the basketball world is mourning her far too soon.

Just days after celebrating her 43rd birthday, Kara Braxton’s life came to a sudden and heartbreaking end. The two-time WNBA champion leaves behind two sons, a grieving family, and a legacy that reached far beyond the hardwood.

As tributes from her children and siblings continue to surface online, the basketball world is still trying to process how quickly everything changed.

The WNBA confirmed her passing in a statement posted on X, writing, "It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton."

The league added, "Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time."

What Exactly Happened on Interstate 285?

According to NBC News, Braxton was driving a 2023 Ford Mustang north on Interstate 285 in Cobb County, Georgia, just after 5 p.m. Saturday, when the vehicle struck the concrete median wall.

Police said, "The Ford continued in a northerly direction against the concrete wall until coming to rest on the left shoulder of I-285 at Cobb Parkway."

Braxton, a resident of College Park, Georgia, was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. The crash remains under investigation, and authorities are asking witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

How a Small-Town Teen Became a Two-Time WNBA Champion

Born February 18, 1983, in Jackson, Michigan, Braxton's rise in basketball began early. She attended high school ithere before transferring to Westview High School in Portland, Oregon, where she was named Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.

At the University of Georgia, she made an immediate impact. As a freshman in 2002, she averaged 16.3 points and 2.0 blocked shots per game and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.

Her college career ended in February 2004 during her junior season when she was dismissed from the team by then-coach Andy Landers for undisclosed violations of team policies. Georgia went on to reach the Elite Eight that year.

She later returned to finish what she started. Braxton graduated from the University of Georgia in spring 2024.

"It has always been a goal of mine to come back and finish school, and finish what I started," she said in a May 2024 statement released by the school. "It’s a very exciting time for me right now."

How Did She Win It All?

Braxton entered the WNBA as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2005 draft, selected by the Detroit Shock.

Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and wearing jersey No. 45, the center-forward quickly became part of a powerhouse team led by coach Bill Laimbeer, along with Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith.

The Shock won WNBA championships in 2006 and 2008. Braxton finished fourth in Sixth Player of the Year voting in both 2008 and 2009.

When the franchise relocated to Tulsa in 2010, she moved with the team. It later became the Dallas Wings.

Braxton also played for the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty, wrapping up her 10-season WNBA career in 2014 with the Liberty.

Her most productive stretch came in Phoenix, where she averaged 10.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Over her career, she averaged 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.

After the WNBA, Braxton played professionally overseas in Turkey, China, Israel, and South Korea. She later worked for Nike in Oregon before returning to Georgia.

A Mother First

Beyond her championships and statistics, Braxton was also the mother of two sons: Jelani Thurman and Jream.

Her son Jelani, a tight end at Ohio State University, is in his third season with the program and played in all 16 games in 2024 for the CFP national champions. He had four receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown that season.

A two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, majoring in sport administration, Jelani has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Following his mother's death, he shared an Instagram story featuring photos of them together over the years and wrote, "Imma miss my queen!"

In an interview, when asked about lessons his mother taught him, he said:

"She taught me always go hard, and there's only one goal. You know what you need to go to do. Going to the championship, she's been to the championship. She's told me some of the experiences she had and some of the things she could got to did have to do to get there, honestly."

Jelani also shared a longer message on his Instagram Stories, thanking supporters.

"Our family truly appreciates the incredible love, prayers, calls, messages, visits, and support we’ve received during this incredibly difficult time after the loss of my mom," the statement read.

"As we continue navigating this painful moment, today will be the last day we will be receiving guests at the house until further notice. We kindly ask for privacy as my grandmother and the rest of our family take time to grieve personally and begin making arrangements for my mom’s homegoing."

"Please continue to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. We will share updates regarding services when the arrangements are finalized. Thank you again for your love, patience, and understanding during this time."

A Brother's Tribute

Braxton's brother, Kevin Brown, also shared a public tribute on Facebook, calling the news "devastating."

"I received devastating news this weekend that my youngest sister Kara Braxton had passed away," he wrote. "I am totally devastated and completely crushed, I loved her with all of my heart."

He added, "You towered over me but you will always be my little sister."

The post asked for prayers for Braxton’s twin Kime Bratts, Kime's son Kijon Braxton, their mother Christine Brown, and brother Kyle Brown, as well as for Braxton's sons Jream and Jelani Thurman.

A Life That Spanned Courts and Classrooms

From Michigan to Oregon, from Athens to Detroit, Phoenix, Tulsa, and New York, Braxton's journey was anything but ordinary.

She won championships, returned to earn her college degree two decades later, and watched her son follow his own path in elite sports.

Her final public milestone came less than a year ago — walking across a graduation stage she once left behind.

Now, as investigators continue to examine the crash, tributes from across the basketball world continue to pour in, a reminder that Kara Braxton's impact extended well beyond the box score.