RALEIGH, N.C. -- For four years, Alana Beard thought only of leading Duke to a national championship. Now, her focus has changed.

Beard did everything she could to achieve her goal of winning a title with the Blue Devils. She won national player of the year awards, led Duke to two Final Fours, but ultimately fell short of turning her dream into reality.

Beard isn't looking back. She's too busy getting ready for the start of her professional career.

"I haven't had time to reflect at all, which I think is awesome,'' Beard said Thursday, two days before she will be a high pick in the WNBA draft. "And I don't think I'll have time to reflect for a while. I'm just enjoying every moment.''

Beard, The Associated Press player of the year in women's basketball, is likely headed to Washington as the second overall pick. Phoenix seems sure to pick Connecticut's Diana Taurasi with the top pick.

Beard hardly seems to mind where she ends up.

"It doesn't matter,'' Beard said. "I'm just grateful for the chance to play in the league.''

Beard has already put together an impressive basketball resume. She scored 2,687 career points, making her the career scorer leader at Duke -- men or women. She's also the first player in NCAA men's or women's history to get more than 2,500 points and 400 steals.

Beard became just the second three-time AP All-American and the first female player at Duke to have her jersey number retired. She also won the inaugural women's John R. Wooden Award as college basketball's top player.

During her career, she led the Blue Devils to their first No. 1 ranking when she was a junior. She also led Duke to four straight Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament titles.

Her career ended when Minnesota upset the Blue Devils (30-4) in the Mideast Regional final. Still, Beard remained busy.

In the weeks since that loss, she traveled to New Orleans to pick up the AP player of the year award, then went to California for the Wooden presentation. After going to Secaucus, N.J., for this weekend's draft, she will have little more than two weeks to get ready before the league begins preseason play May 4.

Beard concedes her outside shot needs work; she shot 30 percent from 3-point range for her career. But Ann Meyers, a draft analyst with ESPN, said Thursday she thought Beard was versatile enough to play either guard position.

"She's such a good passer,'' Meyers said. "She sees the floor. She gets in the lane. She's got a great dribble drive. ... She's only going to get better.''

Beard is almost certain to be the highest-drafted ACC player selected from the collegiate ranks. North Carolina's Nikki Teasley was picked fifth by Portland in the 2002 draft.

"I feel like I can go in and probably fit in anywhere,'' Beard said.

"It feels like we're starting all over again. It's just like the transition from high school to college. That's the same way I'm looking at it now. It's just a higher level.''