The College of Georgia basketball workforce is honoring former participant Kara Braxton after her dying at 43.
Earlier than the workforce’s sport towards the College of Florida on Sunday, March 1, the Bulldogs adorned a seat on their bench with Braxton’s No. 54 jersey and a rose, honoring the previous ahead who was a part of the Bulldogs’ 2004 Elite Eight workforce.
After her time at UGA got here to an finish (head coach Andy Landers dismissed her from the workforce in February 2004 after a number of suspensions), the Detroit Shock chosen Braxton within the 2005 WNBA Draft. She went on to win two WNBA Championships with the workforce. (The Shock finally moved to Tulsa and at the moment are the Dallas Wings.)
“It’s with profound unhappiness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the WNBA mentioned in a press release through X on the time of her dying. “A ten-season veteran, Kara performed with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our ideas are along with her household, pals, and former teammates presently.”
Replace 2/24/26 at 10:26 a.m. — Former WNBA star Kara Braxton died in a single-car accident in Georgia, Cobb County Police confirmed to USA At the moment. She was 43. The accident occurred Saturday, February 21 at roughly 5:13 p.m. when Braxton “failed to keep up her lane” and “collided with the concrete median wall,” based on a (…)
Braxton died on Saturday, February 21after she was concerned in a single-car accident in her house state of Georgia. In accordance with a report obtained by USA At the momentBraxton “failed to keep up her lane” and “collided with the concrete median wall.”
She was transported to a Marietta, Georgia, hospital the place she was pronounced useless.
After her dying was introduced, Braxton’s former teammate, Plenette Piersonpaid tribute through Instagram. Braxton and Pierson performed along with the Shock and once more with the New York Liberty later of their careers.
“Karebear……….This nonetheless feels unreal,” she wrote. “I maintain replaying recollections and conversations as a result of a part of me expects to listen to your voice once more. Dropping you hurts in a method phrases can’t maintain.”
“We mourn the lack of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty participant whose presence and fervour left a long-lasting impression on our group and the ladies’s sport,” the Liberty added in a press release through X. “Our hearts are along with her household, pals, teammates, and all who have been touched by her spirit. Her impression is not going to be forgotten. 🕊️”
Braxton — a Michigan native — retired from basketball in 2014 and spent a number of years working for Nike in Oregon earlier than shifting to Atlanta.
Braxton is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jacksontheir son, Jreamand her son, Jelani Thurmanwho she shared with former NFL participant Odell Thurman.
Jelani is coming off a nationwide championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes soccer workforce, the place he performed tight finish. He’s since transferred to the College of North Carolina, the place he’ll play his senior season.
Former Louisiana State College soccer participant Devonta Lee has died after a years-long battle with most cancers, his mom, Lacresia Brown, confirmed to native Arkansas TV station KTVE on Thursday, February 26. He was 26. Lee performed three seasons at LSU from 2019 to 2021, profitable a nationwide championship with the Tigers as a real freshman. (…)
“She taught me to all the time go exhausting,” Jelani mentioned of his mother to Yahoo Sports activities final week. “She’s been to the championship, so she instructed me about among the experiences she had and among the issues she needed to do to get there.”
He posted a number of tributes to his mother through Instagram on Sunday, which included a video of his mother reaching over the railing at a Buckeye soccer sport to present him a hug.
Braxton beforehand mentioned Jelani impressed her to return to Athens, Georgia, in 2026 to complete her diploma.
“When he landed at Ohio State, I simply mentioned, ‘It’s my flip,” she mentioned in a narrative for georgiadogs.com on the time. “I acquired him out the door, acquired him the place he wanted to be, so let me go forward and end what I wished to complete. I enrolled on the identical time Jelani enrolled, and right here I’m.”