Basketball Star Dies Suddenly At 43

Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton has died at 43, the league announced Sunday.

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the WNBA said.

“Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”

No cause of death was released.

Braxton, a 6-foot-6 forward known for her strength in the paint and relentless motor, played college basketball at Georgia from 2001 to 2004. She developed into a pro-ready post presence in the SEC, then took her game to the next level after Detroit made her a top pick.

The Detroit Shock selected Braxton No. 7 overall in the 2005 WNBA draft, and she made an immediate impact as a rookie. She earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team in her debut season, giving Detroit an athletic frontcourt piece who could run, rebound and battle inside.

Braxton’s best team moments came with the Shock. She won both of her WNBA titles in Detroit, helping the franchise capture championships in 2006 and 2008 during one of the league’s toughest eras. She later earned an All-Star selection in 2007, a nod to her rise as a dependable interior scorer and rebounder.

Her pro journey also tracked the league’s shifting landscape. Braxton moved with the franchise from Detroit to Tulsa, then was traded to the Phoenix Mercury before landing with the New York Liberty during the 2011 season. She stayed in New York through the end of her career, retiring in 2014.

Across 10 WNBA seasons, Braxton averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, numbers that reflected a player who did plenty of the dirty work, setting hard screens, protecting space in the lane and cleaning the glass. Teammates and coaches often valued her for the effort plays that don’t show up in a box score but swing possessions.

A spokesman for the Liberty remembered her impact beyond the stat line.

“We mourn the loss of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty player whose presence and passion left a lasting impact on our organization and the women’s game,” the spokesman said.

“Our hearts are with her family, friends, teammates, and all who were touched by her spirit. Her impact will not be forgotten.”

Basketball ran in the family. Braxton’s son, Jelani, was part of Ohio State’s 2024 national championship-winning team. The tight end transferred last month to Bill Belichick’s program at the University of North Carolina, extending the family’s athletic footprint to the college football world.

The league did not provide additional details Sunday

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