Kara Liana Braxton (born February 18, 1983) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Liberty of the

Women's National Basketball Association The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an American professional basketball league. It is composed of twelve teams, all based in the United States. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the Natio ...

(WNBA).

Early life

Kara 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 and then moved to

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

. She and her twin sister later enrolled at Westview High School, in the

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

suburb of Beaverton. Braxton attended the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

, 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.Associated Press
"Georgia Dismisses Leading Scorer Braxton"
February 20, 2004 She graduated in 2005.

Georgia statistics

Source

The 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 Odell Lamar Thurman (born July 9, 1983) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia. Early years Odell Thurman attended Jas ...

. 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 Ruth Ellen Riley Hunter (born August 28, 1979) is a retired American professional basketball player (a center), playing most recently for the Atlanta Dream in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA ...

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.

European career

*2005–2006: TS Wisla Can-Pack Krakow (champion) *2006–2007:

Beşiktaş Cola Turka Beşiktaş () is a district and municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus strait. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and Şişli, on the west by Kağıthane and Şişli, on the south by Beyoğlu, and ...

*2007–2008: TS Wisla Can-Pack Krakow (champion) *2008–2009:

Galatasaray Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (, ''Galatasaray Sports Club'') is a Turkish sports club based on the European side of the city of Istanbul in Turkey. Most notable for its association football department, the club also consists of various other de ...

*2009–2010: Liaoning Hengye (MVP, champion) *2010–2011: Liaoning Hengye *2011–2012: Optimum TED *2012–2013:

Nadezhda Orenburg PBK Nadezhda Orenburg (russian: ПБК «Надежда») is a Russian women's basketball club from Orenburg founded in 1994. Nadezhda has been 3rd in the Russian Premier League in 2010 and 2011, and reached the Russian Cup's final from 2011� ...

Statistics

* A two-time Class 4A player of the year.

References

External links

WNBA Player Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braxton, Kara 1983 births Living people American expatriate basketball people in China American expatriate basketball people in Poland American expatriate basketball people in Russia American expatriate basketball people in Turkey American women's basketball players Basketball players from Michigan Beşiktaş women's basketball players Centers (basketball) Detroit Shock players Galatasaray S.K. (women's basketball) players Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball players Phoenix Mercury players Sportspeople from Beaverton, Oregon Tulsa Shock players Women's National Basketball Association All-Stars People from Jackson, Michigan Liaoning Flying Eagles players