Mystics induct Alana Beard to their Hall of Fame

The long-time Mystics guard was one of the team’s best players for 2000s.

On Friday, the Washington Mystics inducted former guard Alana Beard to their Hall of Fame in their game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Coincidentally, Beard also played for the Sparks in her career. Beard began her WNBA career in Washington in 2004-11, and finished her career with the Sparks from 2012-19, earning four All-Star appearances for Washington, winning the 2016 WNBA championship with Los Angeles, and winning the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.

Washington highlighted Beard’s journey with the Mystics in this video below. In it, she reunites with former teammates Monique Currie and Crystal Langhorne. She also embraced the current front office of General Manager Mike Thibault and Head Coach Eric Thibault.

During the game, she was honored at halftime, which also earned a shoutout from Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis.

Washington finished the game with a hard fought 80-74 win, which Marco Gacina wondered whether that could hurt their draft lottery status. But in a down season, and in a game when the Mystics are welcoming back one of their best players ever, I lean toward a feel-good win.

After the game, Beard gave guard Brittney Sykes the team’s Hard Hat after Sykes scored 28 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 5 assists. In a coincidence, Sykes wore the same No. 20 Beard did AND played previously for the Sparks too.