Duke’s Beard Gets Women’s Honor

Duke’s Alana Beard was named the 27th winner of the Wade Trophy on Saturday, a national player of the year award. Beard was presented the award during the introduction of the Kodak All-America women’s basketball team.

“I don’t know if anything can remove the sting of not winning a national championship, because I wanted that so bad -- not just for me but for my coaches and teammates,” Beard said. “But the award is a blessing. I didn’t think they would call my name; people said [Connecticut’s Diana Taurasi] and I were the front-runners ... but she took her team to the Final Four four years in a row and has won two national championships. She has what I want.”

“She deserved it,” Taurasi said of Beard. “I’m really happy for her.”

Joining Beard and Taurasi on the All-America team are Seimone Augustus of Louisiana State, Shyra Ely of Tennessee, Chandi Jones of Houston, Kelly Mazzante of Penn State, Janel McCarville of Minnesota, Nicole Ohlde of Kansas State, Nicole Powell of Stanford and Lindsay Whalen of Minnesota.

-- Mike Terry