Kara Braxton, Former WNBA Star, Dies at 43 in Single-Car Crash

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Kara Braxton, former two-time WNBA champion, passed away at the age of 43 after being involved in a tragic single-car accident.

The tragic incident happened on Saturday afternoon, February 21, 2026, in the Atlanta, Georgia area, with preliminary details indicate that Braxton's vehicle struck a concrete median wall, leading to her death. 

This sad news came as a shock to many, given Braxton's significant contributions during her decade-long WNBA career.

She was known as a formidable power forward and center, leading her team to numerous accomplishments.

Kara Braxton is survived by her husband and two sons, including Jelani Thurman, a football player who currently plays for North Carolina.

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton.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. pic.twitter.com/0I71xWCWfW

— WNBA (@WNBA) February 23, 2026

Kara Liana Braxton passed away on February 21, 2026, at the age of 43, after a single-car accident in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

The incident occurred on I-285 on Saturday afternoon, when her vehicle struck a concrete median wall on the left shoulder.

According to authorities, Braxton was immediately rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead.

The Cobb County Police Department has not yet detailed the initial cause of her vehicle's departure.

One of her sons, Jelani Thurman, was a well-known tight end who played for Ohio State and won a national championship in 2025, before transferring to North Carolina in January 2026.

Jelani Thurman, posted a photo of himself and his mother from when he was a toddler, a teenager and a college football player.

“Imma miss my queen!” he wrote in an Instagram story.

Kara Braxton was an American professional basketball player who enjoyed a 10-season career in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Born on February 18, 1983, in Jackson, Michigan, USA, Braxton stands 6 feet 1.98 meters tall and weighs 260 pounds.

Her professional career began after she was selected by the Detroit Shock in the first round (7th pick, 7th overall) of the 2005 WNBA Draft.

During her WNBA career, she played for several teams, including the Detroit Shock (2005–2008), the Tulsa Shock (2010), the Phoenix Mercury (2010–2011), and the New York Liberty (2011–2014).

Her highlight was winning two WNBA championships with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008.

She was also selected as a WNBA All-Star in 2007 and named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2005.

During her 10 professional seasons, Braxton averaged 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.

Before beginning her professional career in the WNBA, Kara Braxton demonstrated her talent in high school.

She attended Westview in Portland, Oregon, and earned Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a senior.

She then attended the University of Georgia from 2002 to 2005, where she was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002.

After retiring from professional basketball in 2014, Braxton briefly worked for Nike in Oregon.

She then moved to the Atlanta area with her family.

Kara Braxton's legacy extends beyond her accomplishments on the basketball court, but also through her family, especially her son, Jelani Thurman, who is now following in her footsteps in the sport.