Alana Beard re-signs with Sparks

LOS ANGELES -- Alana Beard has re-signed with the Los Angeles Sparks after spending the past three seasons with the WNBA team.

The guard-forward averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds while starting all 33 games last season. She was named to the league's all-defensive team for the fifth time last year.

Beard first joined the Sparks as a free agent in February 2012. She averaged 8.7 points, 2.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 98 games over that time.

The four-time All-Star began her career with Washington, playing six seasons with the Mystics before missing 2010 and 2011 with injuries.