LOS ANGELES, CA – February 6, 2018 – The Los Angeles Sparks re-signed Alana Beard, Executive Vice President and General Manager Penny Toler announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A 5-foot-11 shooting guard, Beard has played the last six seasons with the Sparks and is a four-time WNBA All-Star and 2016 WNBA Champion. She started all 34 games last season where she averaged 30.8 MPG, 6.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.2 APG and led the league in steals (2.09 SPG), and was named 2017 WNBA and AP (Associated Press) Defensive Player of the Year.

“Alana is coming off an incredible 2017 season where she was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year,” said Penny Toler, Executive Vice President & General Manager of the LA Sparks. “I don’t have enough great adjectives to describe Alana. Her leadership on and off the court is a key ingredient to our team success. She brings 100 percent effort to practice, games, and anything she does. It’s truly been an honor to work with such a classy player.”

In her first WNBA Finals appearance, Beard captured the Sparks victory with a game-winning jump shot at the buzzer in Game 1, and eventually, the 2016 WNBA Championship. Prior to playing with the Sparks, Beard played six seasons for the Washington Mystics after being picked second overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She is the all-time steals leader in franchise history (69) and averaged 16.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 1.9 APG with the team.

“I am grateful for another opportunity to play the game I love and play alongside a special group of women,” said Beard.