|
|
Alana Beard signed with Ramla
Orli Klinger
,01/09/2007 |
The 2nd overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft and one of the most talented young players in the world today has signed with Elizur Ramla as a bosman using a European passport from Moldova. Beard is supposed to replace LaToya Thomas in the Israeli league as well, she will make her debut with the team on Thursday against Barcelona.
A day after the win in Ramat Hasharon, Ramla completely turned the tables. The team signed Alana Beard using a European passport, and both Beard and Spanish point guard Silvia Hernandez (which Ramla signed last week) are supposed to replace LaToya Thomas in the Israeli league as well as play in the Europe Cup.
Beard (24, 6’0), of the Washington Mystics, was the 6th best scorer in the WNBA this summer with 19.2 points per game in what was the best season of her career. The Mystics selected Beard with the 2nd pick of the 2004 WNBA draft, and she immediately became a starter. Today Beard is the big star in Washington, she averaged 19.2 points on 49.5% from the field and 36.3% from 3, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals (6th best in the league) per game this summer.
Beard was named to the All Star in 2005 & 2006, and is also a member of the USA Senior National Team that won the bronze medal in the last World Championships. She is a huge talent, one of the most athletic players in the world and an amazing defensive player. She was named to the WNBA’s All-Defensive Team in the last two seasons.
Beard has never played in Europe, she spent the WNBA offseason playing in Korea and Australia, as an American. Our jaw hit the floor when we heard she has a European passport, but Ramla assured us that she does indeed hold a Moldavian passport. Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe, with a population of less than 4 million. The country was granted independence in 1991. Beard has already landed in Israel, registered with FIBA and will practice for the first time with Ramla tomorrow.
Latest stories
|
|
|
Print
|
|
|
|
|