The Mystics announced today that guard Alana Beard will undergo ankle surgery next week and will probably miss the entire 2010 WNBA season.

That puts the Mystics bench without their team leader in points per game for the past five seasons. Last season, Mystics Head Coach Julie Plank called her a “franchise player.”

General Manager Angela Taylor included the following statement in the Mystics’ press release:

“We are disappointed for Alana because she is committed to doing whatever it takes to help our team to win. She is one of the hardest working players in the WNBA, so we are confident in a full and speedy recovery and look forward to having Alana back on the court during the 2011 season.”