Kara Liana Braxton (February 18, 1983 – February 21, 2026) was an American professional basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 2005 until 2014 and won two championships. == Early life == Kara Braxton and her twin sister, Kim, grew up in a household with four other siblings in Jackson, Michigan. Her father also played basketball. She played her freshman season at Jackson High School and then moved to Oregon. She and her twin sister later enrolled at Westview High School in Portland, OR that is part of the Beaverton School District. Braxton attended the University of Georgia, and was freshman of the year. She was frequently late to practice and committed other unspecified violations of team rules, and after three suspensions during the 2002–03 season, on February 20, 2004, coach Andy Landers dismissed Braxton from the team. She graduated in 2005. == Professional career == === WNBA === On April 16, 2005, the Shock drafted Braxton in the first round as the seventh overall pick in the annual WNBA draft. She had given birth to a son, Jelani, in January 2005. Jelani's father is Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman. Braxton was named to the WNBA's All-Rookie team in 2005 after averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds as a key reserve for the Shock. In 2006, she averaged fewer minutes and points than in her rookie season, but helped the Shock win the WNBA title that year. In 2007, Braxton became Detroit's starting center after the Shock traded Ruth Riley to the San Antonio Stars. She averaged 6.0 ppg. Near the end of the 2007 regular season, the WNBA suspended Braxton for two games after she pled guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. She was also suspended for the first six games of the 2009 season for a second DUI. On May 28, 2014, the Liberty waived Braxton. == Career statistics == === WNBA === ==== Regular season ==== ==== Playoffs ==== === College === == European career == 2005–2006: TS Wisla Can-Pack Krakow (champion) 2006–2007: Beşiktaş Cola Turka 2007–2008: TS Wisla Can-Pack Krakow (champion) 2008–2009: Galatasaray 2009–2010: Liaoning Hengye (MVP, champion) 2010–2011: Liaoning Hengye 2011–2012: Optimum TED 2012–2013: Nadezhda Orenburg == Statistics == A two-time Class 4A player of the year. == Personal life and death == Braxton was the mother of Ohio State University football tight end Jelani Thurman. Braxton, 43, was killed in a traffic collision on February 21, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and her two sons. == References == == External links == WNBA player profile Kara Braxton Q&A