Former WNBA star Kara Braxton died on Sunday. She was 43 years old.
Braxton, a former WNBA All-Star and two-time league champion, played in the league from 2005-14. She was drafted No. 7 overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock. She went on to win championships in 2006 and ’08 with Detroit.
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The former WNBA star went on to play in Tulsa, after the Shock relocated, while also having stints with the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty. Braxton would play internationally in Poland, Turkey, China and Italy through the 2017-18 seasons.
Tragically, Braxton was killed in a single-car accident in Georgia on Sunday.
June 3, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; New York Liberty forward Kara Braxton (45) and Indiana Fever center Jessica Davenport (50) battle for position during the second half at the Prudential Center. The Liberty defeated the Fever 87-72. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports© Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
(© Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images)
USA TODAY confirmed that she was killed in a single-car accident in Georgia.
“A preliminary report says Braxton was driving a blue 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E northbound on I-285 and was approaching Cobb Parkway when she ‘failed to maintain her lane’ and ‘collided with the concrete median wall,’ riding against it until the car came to a rest on the left shoulder,” USA TODAY reported.
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“Braxton, 43, was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia, where she was pronounced dead. She was a resident of College Park, Georgia.”
WNBA releases statement on her death
The WNBA confirmed Braxton’s death on Sunday.
“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,” the WNBA shared on X.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Feb 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
