What's Going On With The WNBA
Kara Braxton, a former WNBA All-Star who played 10 years in the league, including two with the Phoenix Mercury, has died, the league announced on social media.
The cause of death was not given. She was 43.
"It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton. A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time," the WNBA shared on X.
Braxton was drafted No. 7 overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock. She was named to the WNBA All-Rookie team in 2005 and an All-Star in '07. She won championships in 2006 and '08 with Detroit.
She was traded to the Mercury in 2010 and played 31 games in Phoenix before being traded to New York in 2011. Braxton started in 18 games and averaged 10.8 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Braxton worked for Nike in Oregon after her retirement from professional basketball before moving to the Atlanta area. Her son Jelani Thurman was on the 2024 Ohio State national championship football team. He played tight end.
Braxton is survived by her husband, Jarvis Jackson, and her two sons, Thurman and Jream Jackson.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-Phoenix Mercury player, a 2-time WNBA All-Star dead at 43
Caitlin Clark has endured a mixed start to her WNBA career. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft immediately lived up to the hype, leading the Indiana Fever as a rookie with 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. She also topped the league in assists and earned WNBA Rookie of the Year honors while helping Indiana reach its first playoff berth since 2016.
However, her 2025 campaign was marred by recurring injuries, including a left quadriceps strain and a right groin injury. These setbacks limited her to just 13 games and ultimately ruled her out for the remainder of the season.
Clark has been rebuilding toward full health and is preparing for her third WNBA season, with hopes of being fully healthy should the league resume in May as planned.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).© Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesWhile Clark has not played a WNBA game since July due to injury, she has continued to dominate headlines with high-profile appearances, brand collaborations and a massive social media presence. Her visibility off the court has helped elevate both her personal profile and interest in women’s basketball globally.
On Thursday, Clark made another splash outside of basketball, attending the Prada Fall/Winter 2026/2027 show during Milan Fashion Week in Italy. The event is one of the most anticipated events of the fashion calendar where global celebrities and cultural figures gather for runway presentations from one of the world’s leading designers.
Clark’s return to meaningful basketball action is expected to begin with Team USA, as she and fellow star Paige Bueckers were named to the senior national roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament scheduled March 11-17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Following international play, she could make her much-anticipated return to the WNBA when the Fever open the 2026 season against Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on May 9, provided CBA negotiations allow the league to start on schedule.
Related: Caitlin Clark Reacts to Former Iowa Teammate’s Engagement Announcement
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kara Braxton is seen driving to the basket during a game in 2014. She died in a car crash this weekend at 43. - Tim Clayton/Corbis Sport/Getty ImagesTwo-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton died after being in a car crash in Atlanta on Saturday. She was 43.
The athletic department at Georgia, where Braxton played in college, texted The Associated Press confirmation of her death on Monday and posted on social media. Her son, Jelani Thurman, posted a photo of his younger self in his mother’s jersey on social media and wrote that he we will miss his “queen.”
Braxton last played in the WNBA in 2014 while finishing up a four-year stint with New York. She won two titles with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008.
She celebrated her birthday last week.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the league said on social media on Sunday night. “A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”
The 6-foot-6 Braxton was drafted by Detroit with the seventh pick in 2005. She earned All-Rookie honors that season after averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds.
She played half of a season with the franchise when it moved to Tulsa in 2010 before getting traded to Phoenix for the second half of the year.
Braxton then played the first 18 games in Phoenix in 2011 before being acquired by New York. She played with the Liberty until 2014 when she was waived after playing four games.
“We mourn the loss of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty player whose presence and passion left a lasting impact on our organization and the women’s game,” the Liberty posted on social media.
Braxton was SEC Freshman of the Year for Georgia in 2002.
Thurman played football for Ohio State and won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2024. He has since transferred to North Carolina.
Braxton is also survived by her husband Jarvis Jackson and their young son Jream.
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Credit: IMAGO ©Credit: IMAGOCaitlin Clark’s injury absence is changing the competitive landscape at Team USA, and it’s giving someone an unexpected advantage.
Kelsey Mitchell has become the main defensive option against top guards like Paige Bueckers now that Clark is out for the offseason recovering from injuries.
Analyst Sabreena Merchant made an astounding comment about the guard hierarchy during recent evaluations. Merchant said, “I think right now I’d only definitively put Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Mitchell ahead of her just because her size gives her so much advantages over a player like Kelsey Plum.” Merchant said something about Paige Bueckers being one of the best guards. This ranking was based on Mitchell’s great play during the 2025 WNBA season, when she averaged 20.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. This made her one of the league’s most reliable scorers and a steady force for the Indiana Fever.
Mitchell’s rise in the conversation is directly related to how well she did during a difficult season. The Fever had a lot of injuries that ended their season, like Caitlin Clark’s left quad strain and groin problems that kept her from playing more than 13 games, where she averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists per game. Mitchell was in charge. She was a veteran leader who kept the roster stable and showed that she could help her teammates when things got tough. This experience made her a defensive threat to players.
Merchant put Bueckers in the context of this competitive landscape by talking about what she saw in multi-player formats. Merchant said, “One thing I will point out about Paige Bueckers when she was at Team USA camp with Kelsey Plum, Caitlin Clark, Jackie Young, the very best of the best, Chelsea Gray, she looked as good as anybody,” Bueckers has since officially moved up to the senior national team for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament.
As Clark gets healthier, Mitchell’s path grows more and more important for the Fever’s future. She is a key player for Indiana going forward because she is consistent and has shown that she can compete with the best. This is especially important as the WNBA moves forward to negotiate collective bargaining agreements that could change the league’s structure.
Kelsey Mitchell and the Indiana Fever face a crucial decision about the futureThis is the real story about whether Kelsey Mitchell will stay with Indiana or look for new opportunities somewhere else. The WNBA is working on a new deal right now. Once that’s done, free agency will start. Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are two brand-new teams that are ready to spend a lot of money and hire the best players. Mitchell might have choices, but one thing is clear. The Fever really wants her back.
Credit: IMAGOWhen injuries hit the Fever hard in 2025, Mitchell stepped up and became their rock. She plays for Hive BC at Unrivaled with stars like Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, and Azura Stevens, and she keeps showing why she’s one of the best leaders in the league.
The Indiana Fever will be keen to sign her again. She just had her best season in eight years with the franchise, scoring 20.2 points per game, shooting 39.4% from three, and being named to the All-WNBA First Team and MVP.
As the WNBA offseason continues and teams prepare for another title chase, the league paused Sunday to mourn one of its former champions. Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion and 10-year veteran, died at age 43. The news sent shockwaves through the basketball community, prompting a flood of tributes from former teammates, players and fans.
Among those reacting publicly was former Indiana Fever player DeWanna Bonner, who commented on the league’s Instagram post with “❤️💔,” a brief but powerful message that captured the grief felt throughout the WNBA family. Bonner played with Braxton early in her career on the 2010 and 2011 Phoenix Mercury.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the league said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her family, friends and former teammates at this time.” No cause of death was given.
Braxton built a remarkable 10-year career in the WNBA, marked by her toughness and championship spirit. Standing at 6-foot-6, she was picked No. 7 overall by the Detroit Shock in the 2005 WNBA Draft after an impressive college career with the Georgia Bulldogs, where she earned the title of SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002. She was named to the WNBA All-Rookie team in 2005 and played a key role in helping Detroit secure championships in 2006 and 2008.
An All-Star in 2007, Braxton averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds over her career, bringing energy and physicality to every stop. She later played for the Tulsa Shock, Mercury and New York Liberty, finishing her career in New York in 2014.
Her impact extended beyond statistics. Teammates remembered her competitive fire and presence in the paint, where she established herself as one of the league’s more physical interior players during her era. Former teammate Plenette Pierson wrote on Instagram, “Karebear……….This still feels unreal. I keep replaying memories and conversations because part of me expects to hear your voice again. Losing you hurts in a way words cannot hold.”
Phoenix Mercury forward Kara Braxton (45) reacts on the court against the Seattle Storm during a WNBA playoff game.Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY SportsBraxton leaves behind her husband and two sons. One of her sons, Jelani Thurman, played three seasons for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team before transferring to the North Carolina Tar Heels in January.
Bonner’s heartfelt reaction highlighted just how tight-knit the WNBA community really is. As a veteran and former champion herself, Bonner has been part of a league shaped by pioneers like Braxton.
As the league looks ahead to the 2026 season, tributes are likely to continue. For now, the focus remains on honoring Braxton’s legacy as a champion, an All-Star and a fierce competitor whose imprint on the WNBA will endure.
Related: Fever Star Sophie Cunningham Addresses Plan Outside of WNBA
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Lexie Hull enters the 2026 WNBA offseason as a free agent after completing her fourth season with the Indiana Fever. The former sixth-overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft has carved out a strong role with the Fever and was one of the most important pieces in Indiana’s run to the WNBA semifinals last season.
Hull played in every game, providing stability as the Fever were hit with multiple season-ending injuries to key stars, including Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham.
In 2025, Hull averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists, continuing her steady development as a two-way contributor. Her durability and defensive presence helped anchor a roster that was forced to shuffle rotations for much of the year.
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10).Lucas Peltier-Imagn ImagesDuring the offseason, Hull has also been building her off-court profile. In early 2025, she co-founded a cosmetics company called Forta Cosmetics, with plans to launch its first set of products this year. The brand is designed for active people, especially athletes, with products that resist sweat and stay put during movement.
On Tuesday, Hull used her Instagram stories to signal the next step for Forta, reminding her fans that the products will soon be launched and available. Hull tagged the brand on her post, and included the caption: “otw.”
Forta was created by Hull and former beauty investor Sarah Guller with a mission to make makeup that performs as hard as its users do.
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull is launching a cosmetics brand called Forta
It's the first DTC play not tied into a broader sponsorship deal ( that I've seen) from the current crop of young WNBA players pic.twitter.com/jRNq4PX3HF
While Hull continues to promote her brand, she is also preparing for her next season and will be assessing her free agency options. The 2026 WNBA regular season is set to begin in May, though the schedule remains subject to ongoing CBA negotiations.
Related: Caitlin Clark Reacts to Former Iowa Teammate’s Engagement Announcement
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
D. Ross Cameron-Imagn ImagesWNBA players to earn millions for 1st time in revenue share appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
At the forefront of the ongoing CBA negotiations between the WNBA and the players is the issue of revenue sharing. One of the main issues is how far apart both sides are when it comes to how much of the money generated from revenue sharing the players should receive.
But on Monday, the WNBA players union announced that the league had informed them that they had hit required benchmarks to begin paying out revenue shares to each team and distribute amongst players, as per Katie Barnes of ESPN.
As per the players union, the WNBA generated around $8 million in revenue sharing to be split amongst the players. This is the first time in league history that they’ve triggered the required benchmarks to make revenue sharing a possibility. The money generated will be distributed amongst players who were active in the league between 2020-2025.
Over the past couple of months, both the league and the players union have exchanged CBA proposals but have yet to gain any traction on a potential agreement. Via the latest proposal from the WNBA itself, the league would be required to provide housing for all players for the 2026 season. After this year, it would ultimately phase out with only rookies and players on qualifying minimum salaries being eligible through 2028.
Despite the current stalemate regarding a new CBA, the WNBA has set opening day for the 2026 season as May 8. The last WNBA CBA was ratified before the 2020 season.
With no agreement currently in place, the league’s usual free agency period of late January/early February has been bypassed. Two expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, set to begin play this season, also would need to be conducted.
Related: WNBA sets deadline for CBA agreement 2026 season to start on time
Related: WNBPA reveals WNBA crossed revenue sharing benchmark