Alana Monique Beard was born in Shreveport, Lousiana on May 14, 1982 to LeRoy and Marie Beard. She has one older sister, Megan, and one older brother, LeRoy, Jr.

High School
Alana led her Southwood High School team to a 144-6 record in four years under coach Steve McDowell.

In her four years she garnered a host of accolades. As a senior, she was named Gatorade's Louisiana Player of the Year, USA Today Louisiana Player of the Year, Miss Basketball in Louisiana and USA Today second team All-America...and many more!

As a senior, she averaged 24.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 4.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks, posting double-digit scores in 35 of 36 games played.

University
Alana majored in sociology at Duke University, and played basketball from 2000-2004 for the Blue Devils under coach Gail Goestenkors.

In her freshman year (2000-2001) Alana earned USBWA, Sports Illustrated for Women, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sportsline and Women's Basketball Journal National Freshman of the Year honors, among several others. She scored 509 points and made 113 assists -- freshman records.

In her sophomore year (2001-2002), Alana scored her 1,000th career point on Feb. 21, 2002 against Florida State. Her scoring average this year was the highest at Duke since the 1987 season. She also led the ACC in scoring, field goal percentage and steals, and garnered another host of accolades.

In her junior year (2002-2003) she again set records: she made an ACC-record 201 free throws, and set Duke single season records for points (813), field goals made (294), field goals attempted (558), free throws made (201) and double-figure scoring games (36). For the season, she averaged 22.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks.

In her senior year (2003-2004) Alana led the Blue Devils in scoring for the fourth straight year. She also led the ACC in scoring (19.7), and was 16th in rebounding, ninth in field goal percentage, sixth in free throw percentage, fifth in assists, fourth in steals, 13th in three-point field goal percentage, 13th in three-point field goals made, fourth in blocked shots, and second in assist/turnover ratio.

Alana Beard's Blue Devil jersey was retired -- the first Duke women's basketball player to be so honored. Alana also became the first men's or women's player in NCAA history to register over 2,600 points, 500 assists and 400 steals in her career.

WNBA
In the 2004 WNBA draft, Diana Taurasi of UConn was the number 1 pick. Alana Beard was chosen second by the Washington Mystics, and has played for the Mystics for her entire career to date.

Alana played with Tennessee Lady Vols star Chamique Holdsclaw during her first season, but Holdsclaw left the team and the Mystics have never fulfilled their potential, playing only slightly above or slightly below .500 each year.