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Beard Leads Ownership Group for Oakland WNBA Proposal
10/29/2021 11:38:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM — Former Duke National Player of the Year and WNBA Champion Alana Beard has partnered with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) in pursuit of brining a WNBA franchise to Oakland, Calif.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity and excited to help bring a WNBA team to Oakland," said Beard. "The AASEG has done an incredible job of getting us to this point and has garnered tremendous support from influencers in the local community. I am hopeful our vision, passion and collective efforts will lead to the return of professional basketball in Oakland."
A 15-year veteran of the WNBA and 4-time WNBA All-Star, Beard will lead the Oakland WNBA ownership process. Attorney Jade Smith-Williams, a local Oakland women's basketball legend and former professional player, will advise the group on its ownership pursuit.
Beard, a back-to-back WNBA Defensive Player of the Year selection, along with Smith-Williams will be working closely with Oakland natives, Shonda Scott and Samantha Wise, and members of the AASEG. Beard and the AASEG are also in discussions with several other prominent African American women to join the process soon.
The AASEG is positioned to not only bring a WNBA team to Oakland, but also to bring resources to girls and women throughout the Bay Area.
Beard, a 2004 Duke graduate, was the first Blue Devil women's basketball standout to have her jersey retired. She is Duke's all-time leading scorer with 2,687 points, a 2003 and 2004 National Player of the Year, a three-time ACC Player of the Year, three-time Kodak All-American and three-time Associated Press All-American. She led the Blue Devils to the 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four and helped win four straight ACC titles.
#GoDuke
"I'm grateful for this opportunity and excited to help bring a WNBA team to Oakland," said Beard. "The AASEG has done an incredible job of getting us to this point and has garnered tremendous support from influencers in the local community. I am hopeful our vision, passion and collective efforts will lead to the return of professional basketball in Oakland."
A 15-year veteran of the WNBA and 4-time WNBA All-Star, Beard will lead the Oakland WNBA ownership process. Attorney Jade Smith-Williams, a local Oakland women's basketball legend and former professional player, will advise the group on its ownership pursuit.
Beard, a back-to-back WNBA Defensive Player of the Year selection, along with Smith-Williams will be working closely with Oakland natives, Shonda Scott and Samantha Wise, and members of the AASEG. Beard and the AASEG are also in discussions with several other prominent African American women to join the process soon.
The AASEG is positioned to not only bring a WNBA team to Oakland, but also to bring resources to girls and women throughout the Bay Area.
Beard, a 2004 Duke graduate, was the first Blue Devil women's basketball standout to have her jersey retired. She is Duke's all-time leading scorer with 2,687 points, a 2003 and 2004 National Player of the Year, a three-time ACC Player of the Year, three-time Kodak All-American and three-time Associated Press All-American. She led the Blue Devils to the 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four and helped win four straight ACC titles.
#GoDuke
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