Longtime WNBA forward Kara Braxton, who won a pair of titles with the Detroit Shock, died on Sunday, the league and her former teams confirmed.
She was 43. Further specifics of her death are not yet known.
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. pic.twitter.com/0I71xWCWfW
— WNBA (@WNBA) February 23, 2026
Braxton spent a decade in the NBA after a dominant run at Georgia, where she was the SEC’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman. The Shock selected her with the No. 7 overall pick in 2005, and she spent her first five full seasons in the league with the organization. She helped them win a pair of WNBA championships, too, first in 2006 and again in 2008.
Braxton earned her only All-Star nod during the 2007 campaign, too. She averaged 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds during that season. The Shock reached the Finals that summer, too, but ended up falling to the Phoenix Mercury.
Braxton was dealt to Phoenix in 2010 after the Shock moved to Tulsa. She was moved a year later to the New York Liberty, too, where she spent her final four seasons before retiring after the 2014 season. In total, Braxton averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 297 games throughout her career.
Rest in peace Kara 🕊️
Georgia mourns the loss of former Lady Bulldog Kara Braxton, who played from 2002-04. pic.twitter.com/4bKYMzur4c
— Georgia Basketball 🏀🐶 (@UGA_WBB) February 23, 2026
This post will be updated with more information shortly.
