Alana Beard retires from the WNBA

[CameronBornAndBred]

She's on the ACCN set giving her thoughts on Duke's performance during the halftime, so I did a quick Google to see what she's been up to lately. Quirk of timing, she announced her retirement today after 15 years. She leaves the league as a champion, a two time DPOY, and a four time All-Star.

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/01/23/sparks-alana-beard-is-cheered-after-announcing-retirement/

[bundabergdevil]

She was such a joy to watch and a wonderful representative for Duke. Probably my favorite female Duke basketball player! Congrats on a great career, Alana!

[Billy Dat]

Real recognize real

@kobebryant
Welcome to retirement @Alanabeard20 well deserved after an amazing career.

[Son of Jarhead]

Congrats to Alana on a wonderful basketball career! HOF worthy for sure! I love seeing her #20 Jersey hanging in the rafters at CIS. Now, on to second career as a tv analyst... sounding great on ACCN.

[hustleplays]

Congrats to Alana on a wonderful basketball career! HOF worthy for sure! I love seeing her #20 Jersey hanging in the rafters at CIS. Now, on to second career as a tv analyst... sounding great on ACCN.

One of my sons played on the men's practice team with the women's team while Alana was already a star. He was usually tasked with guarding Alana. He told me [I have not vetted this with him or his lawyers, though I did pay for his tuition, sorry, I digress] that Alana was the one player on the women's team who was quicker than he, and whom he had great difficulty guarding.

Another fun anecdote: During my son's first experience scrimmaging against the Duke women, Coach G whistles a stop to the scrimmage and admonishes my son and his teammates that you have to play hard against the gals -- no chivalry, you are here to prepare them for the tough gauntlets they will face in real competition. My son takes message to heart, and takes Alana out on her next drive to the basket. Another whistle: "[Name redacted], you need to play hard, but don't injure our best player!" My son did his best to navigate within those narrow parameters. Evidently, he did okay, because he became a team manager, traveling with the team, and becoming a friend with these wonderful women. It was one of his best Duke and life experiences.

[TKG]

Wonder if K would offer her a spot on his staff?

[camion]

I remember Alana's exploits on the court at Duke as though they were perhaps 2 or 3 years ago. She was wonderful to watch with her skill and exuberance.

And now Alana is not just graduating from Duke, she is retiring from the professional ranks. There are times when I feel old. This is one of them.

Alana I/we salute you.

[brevity]

Wonder if K would offer her a spot on his staff?

Wouldn’t you rather see Trajan Langdon offer her a job on the Pelicans coaching staff?

Either way we’d have to stretch the definition of the Brotherhood.

[jv001]

Wonder if K would offer her a spot on his staff?

I wonder is she could be our football OC?, bet with a little training, she wouldn't be any worse.:cool:
Congratulations Alana on a great career. You're the best lady Dukie that I had the privilege to watch play.

GoDuke!

[jtelander]

From https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/28542516/alana-beard-four-wnba-all-star-announces-retirement

Beard said that if a career in Silicon Valley doesn't pan out, she'd consider coaching -- but only at her alma mater.
"I loved [Duke] that much," she said, "and I feel like I owe them."

[bundabergdevil]

From https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/28542516/alana-beard-four-wnba-all-star-announces-retirement

Beard said that if a career in Silicon Valley doesn't pan out, she'd consider coaching -- but only at her alma mater.
"I loved [Duke] that much," she said, "and I feel like I owe them."

The article says she owns a restaurant in Roanoke. Apparently that restaurant is a mellow mushroom.

[CamrnCrz1974]

Alana Beard, by the numbers/accolades...

Collegiate All-America Honors
Associated Press All-America -- First Team (2002, 2003, 2004)
Kodak/WBCA Coaches All-America (2002, 2003, 2004)
John R. Wooden Award All-America (2004)
United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-America (2002, 2003, 2004)
Collegiate NPOY Honors
Wooden Award -- National Player of the Year (2004)
State Farm Wade Trophy -- National Player of the Year (2004)
Associated Press -- National Player of the Year (2004)
U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) -- National Player of the Year (2004)
ESPN.com -- National Player of the Year (2003, 2004)
Victor Award -- National Player of the Year (2003) Also note:
--- Wade Trophy Finalist for National Player of the Year (2003, 2004)
--- Naismith Finalist for National Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2004)
--- Wooden Award Finalist for National Player of the Year (2004)
--- Honda Award Nominee for National Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2004)


World Championships/Olympic Games
2006 World Championships (Bronze Medal)
Professional/WNBA
WNBA champion (2016)
4× WNBA All-Star (2005–2007, 2009)
All-WNBA Second Team (2006)
2× WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2018)
5× WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2007, 2012, 2016–2018)
4× WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2005, 2006, 2009, 2014)
Other Collegiate Honors and Accomplishments

First men’s or women’s player in NCAA history to register over 2,600 points, 500 assists, and 400 steals
First player to be named ACC Player of the Year three times (2002, 2003, and 2004)
First player in ACC men’s and women’s history to notch eight ACC Championships (four regular season and four tournament)
First ACC player to be named first team All-ACC each of her four years
11-0 record against UNC

[killerleft]

Alana Beard, by the numbers/accolades...

Collegiate All-America Honors
Associated Press All-America -- First Team (2002, 2003, 2004)
Kodak/WBCA Coaches All-America (2002, 2003, 2004)
John R. Wooden Award All-America (2004)
United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-America (2002, 2003, 2004)
Collegiate NPOY Honors
Wooden Award -- National Player of the Year (2004)
State Farm Wade Trophy -- National Player of the Year (2004)
Associated Press -- National Player of the Year (2004)
U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) -- National Player of the Year (2004)
ESPN.com -- National Player of the Year (2003, 2004)
Victor Award -- National Player of the Year (2003) Also note:
--- Wade Trophy Finalist for National Player of the Year (2003, 2004)
--- Naismith Finalist for National Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2004)
--- Wooden Award Finalist for National Player of the Year (2004)
--- Honda Award Nominee for National Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2004)


World Championships/Olympic Games
2006 World Championships (Bronze Medal)
Professional/WNBA
WNBA champion (2016)
4× WNBA All-Star (2005–2007, 2009)
All-WNBA Second Team (2006)
2× WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2018)
5× WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2007, 2012, 2016–2018)
4× WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2005, 2006, 2009, 2014)
Other Collegiate Honors and Accomplishments

First men’s or women’s player in NCAA history to register over 2,600 points, 500 assists, and 400 steals
First player to be named ACC Player of the Year three times (2002, 2003, and 2004)
First player in ACC men’s and women’s history to notch eight ACC Championships (four regular season and four tournament)
First ACC player to be named first team All-ACC each of her four years
11-0 record against UNC


Alana's professional career was a bit like Grant Hill's. Frequent injuries left her with significant downtime. The Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018 are as impressive to me as any of the earlier ones, at least. What a special player and person!

[Class of '94]

Alana's professional career was a bit like Grant Hill's. Frequent injuries left her with significant downtime. The Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018 are as impressive to me as any of the earlier ones, at least. What a special player and person!

On a side note, the frustrating thing for me is that it seems like our best players with the most potential to be great at the professional level have been sidelined in the professional careers by significant injuries,which leave us wondering "what if" (players like Grant, Alana, Jay Williams, and Bobby Hurley, along with Kyrie and Jabari to a much lesser extent).

On a more positive note, Alana had a great college career; and an incredible professional career. I would love to see her coaching at Duke one day. I would argue, based on her accomplishments, that she may be the greatest female Duke basketball player ever; and one most talented/greatest players to ever play for Duke, male or female.

[kako]

alana beard, by the numbers/accolades...

11-0 record against unc
[/list]

gthc

9f

[CamrnCrz1974]

I would argue, based on her accomplishments, that she may be the greatest female Duke basketball player ever; and one most talented/greatest players to ever play for Duke, male or female.

There is no argument. None. Zero.

— She is the undisputed greatest female basketball player in Duke history.
— She is undisputedly one of the greatest players to ever suit up for Duke, male or female.

[jv001]

Alana's professional career was a bit like Grant Hill's. Frequent injuries left her with significant downtime. The Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018 are as impressive to me as any of the earlier ones, at least. What a special player and person!

I noticed that as well, killerleft. Alana was an all star in the WNBA in 2009 and then the injuries. She then came back and was on several all-defensive teams. Toping it off with WNBA Defensive POY in 2017 and 2018. She had an illustrious career in college and in the WNBA. She was a joy to watch. What a player.

GoDuke!

[brevity]

I was watching a rebroadcast of Gone in 54 Seconds Friday night, and the ACC Network had a promo for a marathon of Alana Beard games next Saturday, July 11.

ESPN's upcoming schedule lists the games:

11:00 AM 2002: Duke vs. North Carolina (W Basketball)
1:00 PM 2002: Tennessee vs. Duke (W Basketball)
3:00 PM 2003: Duke vs. North Carolina (W Basketball)
5:00 PM 2003: Purdue vs. Duke (W Basketball)
7:00 PM 2004: Duke vs. North Carolina (W Basketball)

I think those times are Eastern, but I'm not sure -- I live in Central.

[burnspbesq]

I was watching a rebroadcast of Gone in 54 Seconds Friday night, and the ACC Network had a promo for a marathon of Alana Beard games next Saturday, July 11.

ESPN's upcoming schedule lists the games:

11:00 AM 2002: Duke vs. North Carolina (W Basketball)
1:00 PM 2002: Tennessee vs. Duke (W Basketball)
3:00 PM 2003: Duke vs. North Carolina (W Basketball)
5:00 PM 2003: Purdue vs. Duke (W Basketball)
7:00 PM 2004: Duke vs. North Carolina (W Basketball)

I think those times are Eastern, but I'm not sure -- I live in Central.

The only thing missing from that list is the miraculous comeback win against UConn in ‘04.