Kara Braxton, former WNBA and Oregon prep basketball star, dead at age 43

Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion out of Westview High School, has died at the age of 43.

Braxton was killed in a car accident over the weekend in Atlanta, according to several reports. But no official cause of death has been released. The WNBA confirmed her death through social media on Sunday.

Braxton is considered one of the best high school basketball players in Oregon history. The Oregonian/OregonLive ranked Braxton No. 7 on its list of the top 25 girls prep players published in 2017.

Kara and her twin sister Kim, who also played basketball, moved from Jackson, Michigan, to Oregon in 1997.

Kara Braxton was named Class 4A player of the year following her sophomore and junior seasons.

As a sophomore, Braxton averaged 18.8 points and 9.7 rebounds during the regular season and upped her production to 22 points and 9.5 rebounds in the state tournament.

The following season, she averaged 17.8 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. That season, the twins led the Wildcats to the 4A championship.

Kara Braxton (right)Dana E. Olsen

Several recruiting services ranked Kara Braxton the No. 2 recruit nationally heading into her senior season.

The twins signed with Georgia, where Kara played for three seasons, averaging 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Braxton was named SEC freshman of the year after averaging 16.3 points per game during the 2001-02 season.

In 2005, Braxton entered the WNBA draft and was selected No. 7 overall by Detroit. She played eight seasons with the Shock, Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty, averaging 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds.

During her time in the WNBA, Braxton was named an All-Star in 2007 and won championships with the Shock in 2006 and 2008.

During the 2008 playoffs, Braxton averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Braxton is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and two sons, Jelani Thurman and Jream Jackson.

Her oldest son, Jelani Thurman, played tight end for Ohio State last season before transferring to North Carolina this offseason.

Sisters, Kara (left) and Kim Braxton, played basketball at Westview HS and have been heavily recruited by schools all over the country. They’re sitting among hundreds, if not thousands of recruiting letters. Photo taken Sunday 11/19/00. Photo by: FREDRICK D. JOE LC- THE OREGONIANLC- THE OREGONIAN