Alana Beard is a former professional basketball player from the United States. She played in the Women’s National Basketball Association. The team she played for in the WNBA include the Washington Mystics and the Los Angeles Sparks. She also played internationally for teams like the Shinsegae Coolcat. In 2016, she became a WNBA Champion because she was a part of the Sparks team that won the championship that year.
Player Profile and College Career
Alana Monique Beard was born on May 14, 1982, in Shreveport, Louisiana. She stands 180 cm tall and her weight was last listed as 73 kg. She attended Southwood High School in her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. She later went on to sign to play for Duke University for the Blue Devils. She stayed at Duke from 2000 to 2004.
While at Duke, she was named the ACC Player of the Year three times, from 2002 to 2004.
| Position | Small Forward |
| Height / weight | 1.8 m / 73 kg |
| Born | 14 May 1982 |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Team History | |
Los Angeles Sparks
|
2012 - 2019 |
| Perfumerias Avenida | 2015 - 2016 |
| Wisla Can-Pack Kraków | 2012 - 2013 |
| Elitzur Ramla | 2011 - 2012 |
Washington Mystics
|
2004 - 2011 |
| Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia | 2008 - 2009 |
| Elitzur Ramla | 2007 |
| Shinsegae Coolcat | 2005 - 2006 |
Career
Her professional career started when she was drafted into the WNBA by the Mystics in 2004. She was their 2nd overall pick in the first round of the draft. She played the position of shooting guard and small forward.
She stayed with the Mystics from 2004 to 2011. While with the Mystics, she was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team and the WNBA All-Defensive First Team a couple of times. She was also named a WNBA All-Star three times during her tenure. In 2012, she was traded to the Sparks.
While she was with the Mystics, Beard also played internationally. Teams she played for include Elitzur Ramla, Shinsegae Coolcat, and Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia. She also won the Israeli League Championship while she was with Ramla.
She signed with the Sparks in 2011 and she played with them through to 2019. While with the team, she was again the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year twice. She was also named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team again. In that period, she also had international success and won the Spanish National League Championship while she was attached to Perfumerias Avenida.
After a 15-year-long career, she announced that she was retiring from the WNBA in January 2020.
Career Highlights
- 2016 - WNBA champion
- 2005–2007, 2009 - WNBA All-Star
- 2006 - All-WNBA Second Team
- 2017, 2018 - WNBA Defensive Playerof the Year
- 2007, 2012, 2016–2018 - WNBAAll-Defensive First Team
- 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014 - WNBAAll-Defensive Second Team
- 2007 - Israeli National Leaguechampion
- 2007 - Israeli State Cup winner
- 2009 - Polish National Leaguechampion
- 2016 - Spanish National Leaguechampion
- 2002–2004 - ACC Player of the Year
Medal Record, Women’s Basketball, Representing the USA
- Bronze - 2006 Brazil WorldChampionship
- Gold - 2000 U18 Mar Del Plata U18and U19
- Bronze - 2001 U19 Brno U18 and U19
