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Two-Time WNBA Champion and Jackson Native Kara Braxton Dies at 43
Braxton was a 10-season veteran who helped lead the Detroit Shock to two league titles.
Published on Feb. 24, 2026
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Former two-time WNBA champion and Jackson native Kara Braxton has died at the age of 43. The WNBA announced her passing on Monday, calling her a 10-season veteran and offering condolences to her family, friends and former teammates.
Why it matters
Braxton was a standout player who won two WNBA championships with the Detroit Shock and made the All-Star team in 2007. Her passing is a significant loss for the women's basketball community, especially in her hometown of Jackson, Michigan.
The details
Braxton was selected seventh overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock after a standout college career at the University of Georgia, where she was named SEC Freshman of the Year. She helped lead Detroit to league championships in 2006 and 2008 and earned an All-Star selection in 2007. Braxton later played for the Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty during her decade in the league.
- Braxton was selected in the 2005 WNBA Draft.
- She won WNBA championships with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008.
- Braxton was named a WNBA All-Star in 2007.
- Braxton passed away on February 23, 2026 at the age of 43.
The players
Kara Braxton
A two-time WNBA champion and 10-season veteran who was originally from Jackson, Michigan.
Detroit Shock
The WNBA team that Braxton played for and won two championships with in 2006 and 2008.
New York Liberty
One of the WNBA teams Braxton played for during her 10-year career.
The takeaway
Kara Braxton's legacy as a two-time WNBA champion and All-Star will continue to inspire young basketball players, especially those from her hometown of Jackson, Michigan. Her passing is a significant loss for the women's basketball community.
