Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton, 43, dies after single-vehicle crash on I-285 near Atlanta

Crash occurred Saturday evening near Cobb Parkway; investigation remains open

Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion who played 10 seasons in the league, died at age 43 after a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 285 near Atlanta. Police said the wreck occurred Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Cobb County.

Investigators said Braxton was driving a 2023 Ford Mustang northbound on I-285 shortly after 5 p.m. when the vehicle struck a concrete median wall. The car continued along the wall before coming to rest on the left shoulder near the Cobb Parkway area. Braxton was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Authorities have said the case remains under investigation and have indicated they are seeking information from any witnesses who may have seen the crash or events immediately before it.

WNBA career included championships with the Detroit Shock

Braxton was best known for her role with the Detroit Shock, where she won WNBA championships in 2006 and 2008. She entered the league as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft and earned All-Rookie honors in her first season.

Over her WNBA career, Braxton played for the Detroit Shock and the franchise’s later iteration in Tulsa, as well as the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty. Her final WNBA season was 2014, concluding a four-year stretch with New York.

• WNBA draft position: No. 7 overall (2005)
• WNBA championships: 2006 and 2008 (Detroit)
• Teams: Detroit/Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty
• Length of WNBA career: 10 seasons

College roots in Georgia and reactions from the basketball community

Braxton played college basketball at the University of Georgia, where she was recognized as the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2002. Following news of her death, tributes were issued by the league and multiple organizations connected to her playing career, reflecting her long tenure in professional basketball and her ties to the state.

The WNBA released a statement mourning Braxton’s death and offering condolences to her family, friends and former teammates.

Braxton is survived by family members, including her husband and children. No additional official details about the circumstances leading to the crash have been released as investigators continue their work.