Injuries Put Mystics' Beard in All-Star Starting Lineup

Alana Beard was originally named as a reserve but was elevated into the starting lineup after three starters withdrew from the game because of injuries. (Joel Richardson - The Washington Post)

Washington Mystics shooting guard Alana Beard will start for the Eastern Conference in the WNBA All-Star Game tonight at Madison Square Garden, according to Connecticut Sun Coach Mike Thibault, who will lead the East squad.

Beard, who averages 18.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, was originally named as a reserve for the second consecutive year. But she was elevated into the starting lineup after three starters -- Indiana forward Tamika Catchings, Connecticut forward Nykesha Sales and New York guard Becky Hammon -- withdrew from the game because of injuries.

"It's an honor to be on the court with so many great players," said Beard, who scored two points on 1-of-9 shooting in the 2005 All-Star Game. "It's a big accomplishment to know that your name will go down in history as being an all-star."

Beard will start in a three-guard lineup with Connecticut's Lindsay Whalen and Katie Douglas alongside Detroit forward Cheryl Ford and Connecticut center Margo Dydek. Charlotte forward Tangela Smith, Connecticut forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Chicago forward Candice Dupree will take the injured players' spots as reserves.

However, Beard and several Washington teammates felt that another Mystic -- point guard Nikki Teasley -- should have also been selected to the all-star team. Teasley averages 12.1 points per game, is leading the league in assists (111) and assists per game (5.6) and is fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.26).

"Nikki totally deserves to be here after the way she's played and I feel bad for her," said Beard. "I'm not taking anything away from anybody here, but Nikki's leading the league in assists and she could probably bust anybody's ankles here."

Teasley finished seventh among Eastern Conference guards in fan voting (42,445), well behind Hammon (93,122) and Whalen (71,188), who were voted as starters. Teasley did not earn a reserve spot because she was not among the top six in votes by the Eastern Conference coaches; the league did not release those results.

"That's just the way the all-star process works," said the Sun's Thibault. "It all comes down to voting by the fans and by the coaches. Last year, we were in first place and we didn't have a starter in the all-star game and Lindsay Whalen didn't even make the team."

Said Mystics center Chasity Melvin: "Who I feel bad for is our league. This is our all-star game and the best players are supposed to be there and Nikki is one of them."

However, Teasley, who was named to the Western Conference all-star team as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002 and 2003, was more concerned with getting ready for the second half of the season. The Mystics are 10-10 and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Washington was tied with Connecticut for first place on June 17, but is now 4 1/2 games behind the conference-leading Sun (14-5) after losing seven of 10 games.

"Right now, as a team we're not doing well and I could care less about the all-star game," she said. "I'd much rather have my team doing great."