2-Time WNBA Champion Kara Braxton Dies in Car Crash

The former Detroit Shock star was 43 years old at the time of the accident on an Atlanta-area interstate.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock, died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 285 in the Atlanta area on Saturday. The 43-year-old former center-forward was driving a 2023 Ford Mustang when it struck a concrete median wall. Braxton was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Why it matters

Braxton was a beloved figure in the WNBA, helping the Detroit Shock win titles in 2006 and 2008. Her sudden passing at a young age has shocked the basketball community and leaves her family, friends, and former teammates grieving.

The details

According to police in Cobb County, Georgia, Braxton was traveling northbound on I-285 when her vehicle struck the concrete median wall on the left shoulder of the highway. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

  • Braxton died in the car crash on Saturday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Kara Braxton

A two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock who played college basketball at the University of Georgia.

Jelani Thurman

Braxton's son, who plays college football and recently transferred from Ohio State to North Carolina.

Jarvis Jackson

Braxton's husband and the father of their young son Jream.

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What they’re saying

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”

— WNBA (WNBA Twitter)

What’s next

Police said the crash remains under investigation.

The takeaway

Kara Braxton's sudden and tragic death at the age of 43 has left the basketball community in mourning. As a two-time WNBA champion, she was a beloved figure who left an indelible mark on the sport, and her passing is a profound loss for her family, friends, and former teammates.