[1] She played for Southwood High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she led her team to four consecutive state titles.

[1] During the four years Beard played for Duke, the team won four regular season and tournaments championships.

In her second season, Beard was named a WNBA All-Star for the first time in her career, while averaging 14.1 ppg, but the Mystics never made the playoffs.

Beard had the best year of her career in the 2006 season, averaging a career-high 19.2 ppg, shooting nearly 50% from the field and was once again named a WNBA All-Star.

Her season performance, led the Mystics to a playoff berth but were eliminated yet again by Connecticut in the first round in a 2-game sweep.

[5][6] After recovering from back-to-back season ending injuries, Beard signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2012 during free agency.

The Sparks still made it to the playoffs but lost 2–1 in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx, who won the championship that year.

In the 2016 season, Beard would be fully healthy, playing and starting in all 34 games, averaging 7.1 ppg.

With the all-star trio of Parker, Toliver and Ogwumike, the Sparks were a championship contender and finished with a 26–8 record.

[11] During the 2017 season, Beard would once again start in 34 games for the second consecutive season, averaging 6.9 ppg, achieved a career-high in field goal shooting percentage and also led the league in steals, helping the Sparks to 26–8 record and the number 2 seed in the league.

[12] The Sparks would go on to advance to the Finals for the second season in a row, after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in a 3-game sweep, setting up a rematch with the Lynx.

[13] Midway through the season, Beard suffered a groin injury which kept her out for a few weeks and would make her return by August.

Despite this, the Sparks were still a playoff team earning the number 3 seed with a 22–12 record, receiving a bye to the second round.

[19] Beard was a member of the USA Women's U18 team which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar Del Plata, Argentina.

[25] In so doing, Beard helped contribute to Sports Diplomacy's mission to promote leadership and inclusion in youth.