A 5-11 shooting guard from Shreveport, LA, with a contagious smile, Alana Beard has etched her name in stone as one of the greatest players in college basketball history.

A three-time All-American, Wooden, Victor, and Wade award winner, Associated Press, United States Basketball Writers Association, and ESPN.com National Player of the Year, Alana's achievements are vast.

She is the only player in NCAA history - male or female - to amass 2,000 points and 400 steals. Recognized as Duke's All-Time leader for points scored, she is the only female Blue Devil to have her jersey retired.

As a freshman, Alana was the first player in the ACC to collect conference Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week honors in the same week. She capped off her Freshman year by being named ACC Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons.

After leading her team to first place in the AP polls during the 2003-04 season, Alana was the inaugural woman recipient of the John R. Wooden award, given to the top player in women's college basketball.

As captain, she led her team in morale and statistics. Alana's coaches and teammates say she is equally outstanding off the court as on. "It's been an honor, a pleasure and a privilege to be her coach," said Duke Head Coach Gail Goestenkors. "She's not only the best player we've ever had; she's probably the best person. She's left a great legacy for our program."

Drafted second overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2004 WNBA draft, she will no doubt add quite a few more awards to her already extensive collection. Packing up her life in Durham, she heads for the Nation's Capital and celebrates a much anticipated future.

Alana achieved a personal goal when she graduated with a degree in Sociology on May 9th, 2004. She is the daughter of LeRoy and Marie Beard. She has an older sister Megan and an older brother LeRoy, Jr.