New York, NY (AHN) - The WNBA announced on Monday that Alana Beard of the Washington Mystics and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury were the league's Players of the Week for games played from July 30 through Aug. 5.

Beard was cited as best in the Eastern Conference as she averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game for Washington. Taurasi received the best in the Western Conference honors because of her 23.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists a game for Phoenix.

Beard led the Mystics to a 2-1 record for the week and her splendid play helped keep the team in the middle of the playoff hunt. Washington currently holds the fourth and final spot in the postseason race.

Her most important performance came in a game against the Chicago Sky. In a battle of two teams competing for the final playoff spot, Beard scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds in a 71-66 victory.

Taurasi also led her team to a 2-1 mark this past week. The wins were important because they clinched the Mercury's first postseason berth in nearly six years. She was the leading scorer in all three games.

One of her best games came against the Silver Stars as she knocked down 6-of-13 3-point attempts and finished with 24 points in the 84-79 win. Two days later, Taurasi scored 28 points in her team's 111-101 loss to Seattle.