Coach Chris retweetledi
Kara Braxton was 43 years old.
She died today, February 22, 2026, in a fatal car accident in Atlanta, Georgia.
The crash occurred in the early hours of the morning.
She was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Emergency responders transported her to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
She had just turned 43 four days ago, on February 18.
Her full name was Kara Liana Braxton.
She was born on February 18, 1983, in Jackson, Michigan.
She had a twin sister named Kim and grew up in a household with four other siblings.
Her father also played basketball.
She played her freshman season at Jackson High School before moving to Texas with her twin sister, where they played at Lubbock Monterey and won a 5A State Championship.
They later moved to Oregon and enrolled at Westview High School in Portland.
She attended the University of Georgia and was named freshman of the year.
After repeated suspensions during the 2002-03 season for violations of team rules, coach Andy Landers dismissed her from the team on February 20, 2004.
She returned to the University of Georgia years later to "finish what she started," officially graduating in May 2024.
On April 16, 2005, the Detroit Shock selected her seventh overall in the WNBA Draft.
At the time, she had a three-and-a-half-month-old son, Jelani Thurman, whose father is former NFL linebacker Odell Thurman.
Jelani is a tight end who committed to transfer to the University of North Carolina in January 2026.
She was excited to return to the Detroit area, where she had grown up for 12 years.
She played 10 seasons in the WNBA for the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty.
She averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 297 regular-season games.
She was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2005 and was selected to play in one All-Star game.
She won two WNBA championships — both with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008.
Her career included some widely reported challenges, including two suspensions in 2007 and 2009 related to DUI charges, which she later spoke about as part of her journey toward personal growth and finishing her degree.
Beyond the WNBA, she had an extensive international career playing in China, Russia, Turkey, Israel, and South Korea.
After retiring from professional basketball, she remained active in youth outreach initiatives, inspiring young girls to pursue basketball and higher education through athletics.
Coaches and teammates consistently described her as a disciplined competitor who approached the game with professionalism and humility.
Tributes from fellow athletes, sports advocates, and fans across Atlanta and beyond have focused on her positive influence, strong character, and encouragement of younger players.
RIP Kara Braxton. 🕊
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