Kara Braxton, 2-Time WNBA Champ and Mom of 2 Dies at Age 43

NEED TO KNOW

• WNBA star Kara Braxton, who helped her teams win two championships, has died at age 43

• She is survived by her husband, two sons, and twin sister, with her son Jelani Thurman playing football for Ohio State

• Former teammate Plenette Pierson shared a heartfelt tribute, calling Braxton’s sons her “pride and joy”

Decorated WNBA star Kara Braxton has died at the age of 43.

The WNBA announced the news on Sunday, Feb. 22, writing on X, “It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton.”

Advertisement

No cause of death has been shared.

Braxton played for a total of 10 seasons for the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty. The forward was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002 while playing for the University of Georgia and was later named All-Star in 2007.

After winning the WNBA championship in 2008 with Detroit Shock, Braxton visited the White House and met then-President Barack Obama the next year.

She is the mother of two sons — Jelani Thurman, who played on the Ohio State football team that won the national championship in 2024, and Jream Jackson. According to local station KGW8, she is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and twin sister, Kim.

Braxton’s son Thurman shared several tributes to his mother on his Instagram page, including a touching video from Ohio State of the former WNBA star reaching down to hug her son from the stands at a game.

Advertisement

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.