For once, women’s basketball headlines didn’t bring the usual excitement. Instead, the community was met with heartbreaking news: the passing of two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton at just 43. It’s the kind of update fans never want to wake up to.

There were still a few other stories worth catching up on. Angel Reese shared a health update after making her return to Unrivaled, while in the women’s college basketball world, Jazzy Davidson was left in tears after USC’s latest defeat. So let’s get on with it.

WNBA Community Mourns the Loss of Kara Braxton

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the WNBA said in a statement Sunday. “Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.” This is how the women’s basketball world learned of the heartbreaking loss.

Braxton’s WNBA journey began in 2005 when Detroit picked her seventh overall. She soon grew into a key part of Bill Laimbeer’s famous “Bad Girls” group, playing her role in championship runs in 2006 and 2008. After her time in Detroit, Braxton spent a couple of seasons with Phoenix before moving to the New York Liberty, where she eventually retired in 2014. She was an All-Star in 2007 and finished her 10-year WNBA career averaging 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Naturally, the WNBA community has been left heartbroken by the loss, with countless fans and former teammates sharing their prayers and tributes. Here are a few of them.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

Angel Reese Breaks Silence With Quick Health Update

For women’s basketball fans, Angel Reese’s return to Unrivaled came as a big surprise, especially considering the back injury she dealt with late in the WNBA season. She missed 14 games because of injuries last year, and the Sky struggled badly, finishing second last in the table. Not ideal when you head into the season with playoffs hopes.

But the Bayou Barbie was back, and she made an instant impact in both of her games so far this Unrivaled season. She put up 13 points and 8 rebounds in her return and even saw what would’ve been a game-winning steal called a foul. But in her second outing, she made sure Rose BC got the win, recording 9 points and 15 rebounds against Laces BC.

After the game, she also shared a brief health update. “Yeah, I feel great. I feel amazing,” Angel Reese said after Rose BC’s win over the Laces. “That’s why stretching is a little tiring. But it felt really good. I think the best shape you can get in is basketball shape, and being able to play with the best competition in the world, arguably. So I’m just happy to really be here and be able to compete at the highest level and just prepare for what’s next.”

The Bayou Barbie is locked in and ready for the WNBA to begin… but is the season ready for her? For now, all we can do is wait and watch as the WNBA CBA negotiations unfold.

Jazzy Davidson Fights Back Tears After Career Night Ends in Loss

With JuJu Watkins unavailable this season, USC placed much of its hopes on the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Jazzy Davidson. The Trojans sit at 17–10 overall and have struggled in Big Ten play with a 9–7 record, and their recent loss to Ohio State left the freshman visibly emotional.

Following the 88–83 loss to Ohio State, a reporter asked, “Jazzy, it looks like you’re feeling it a little right now. What are you feeling after that one?” Davidson replied, “I just think that we’re all competitors and we all want to win, and… sorry…” She paused to wipe away tears before continuing, “Yeah. I just…yeah. I mean, it’s just a hard loss, but it’s fine. We’ll learn from it.”

You could really understand what she was feeling. Davidson poured in a career-high 32 points, including six three-pointers, while also adding six rebounds and four assists before fouling out. No one wants to lose after a performance like that, but in basketball, that’s sometimes the reality.