Tyra Whitehead, a former standout for San Jose State women’s basketball who played professionally overseas, has died. She was 26.
CSM Târgoviste, a Romanian women’s basketball club that Whitehead played for, announced that Whitehead was found dead in her apartment in Romania last week. Local authorities are investigating the death.
“Tyra’s spirit will forever live on in the hearts of those she inspired. May she rest in peace,” said San Jose State women’s basketball in a post on Twitter/X.
There is currently a fundraiser to help return Whitehead’s remains to the United States.
Our deepest condolences to the friends and family of former San José State Women’s Basketball player Tyra Whitehead ‘21.
— San José State Women’s Basketball (@SanJoseStateWBB) October 10, 2024
Tyra’s spirit will forever live on in the hearts of those she inspired. May she rest in peace. 💙⚔️💛#AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/hW9rDG8pww
Whitehead, a graduate of Cosby High School in Midlothian, Virginia., spent two seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to San Jose State. Over 35 career games with the Spartans, Whitehead averaged 14.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
In her first year with the Spartans, Whitehead averaged 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals while shooting 51.2 percent from the field, becoming the fifth Spartan to average a double-double and earning an All-Mountain West Conference honorable mention. On Jan. 4., 2020, Whitehead became the second player in program history to have a 20/20 game, scoring 22 points and pulling down 20 rebounds.
The following season, Whitehead averaged 15.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.5 steals over four games before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In San Jose State’s first game of that shortened season, Whitehead totaled 12 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, two blocks and five steals against Cal, leading the Spartans to their first win over a Pac-12 school since 2009.
Whitehead signed with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics following her time in the Bay Area but never played for the team. Whitehead went on to play for the Wetterbygden Sparks (Sweden), Essex Rebels (Great Britain), Kilsyth Cobras (Australia) and CSM Târgoviste.
“Tyra was a force on the court and a decisive factor in us making it to our first trophy final,” the Essex Rebels wrote on social media. “Off the court she was a joy to be around, always laughing and joking. She was a great player but an even better person — always lifting the spirits of those around her and caring deeply for her friends and teammates. Everyone in the Rebels family is devastated by her passing and our thoughts are with all her family and friends in this difficult time.”