List of WNBA career assists leaders

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Sue Bird is the WNBA's all-time leader in assists, with 3,234.

The following is a list of the players who have achieved the most assists during their WNBA careers.

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 WNBA season.
^ Active WNBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a]
§ 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024
WNBA most assists
Rank Player Pos Team(s) played for (years) Total assists Games
played 		Assists
per game
average[b]
1 Sue Bird† G Seattle Storm (2002–2012, 2014–2018, 2020–2022) 3,234 580 5.6
2 Courtney Vandersloot^ G Chicago Sky (2011–2022)
New York Liberty (2023–present) 		2,849 429 6.6
3 Ticha Penicheiro G Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009)
Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011)
Chicago Sky (2012) 		2,600 454 5.7
4 Diana Taurasi^ G Phoenix Mercury (2004–2014, 2016–present) 2,394 565 4.2
5 Lindsay Whalen* G Connecticut Sun (2004–2009)
Minnesota Lynx (2010–2018) 		2,345 480 4.9
6 Becky Hammon* G New York Liberty (1999–2006)
San Antonio Silver Stars/San Antonio Stars (2007–2014) 		1,708 450 3.8
7 Candace Parker† F/C Los Angeles Sparks (2008–2020)
Chicago Sky (2021–2022)
Las Vegas Aces (2023) 		1,634 410 4.0
8 Chelsea Gray^ G Connecticut Sun (2015)
Los Angeles Sparks (2016–2020)
Las Vegas Aces (2021–present) 		1,631 325 5.0
9 Cappie Pondexter G Phoenix Mercury (2006–2009)
New York Liberty (2010–2014)
Chicago Sky (2015–2017)
Los Angeles Sparks (2018)
Indiana Fever (2018) 		1,578 416 3.8
10 Natasha Cloud^ G Washington Mystics (2015–2023)
Phoenix Mercury (2024–present) 		1,521 286 5.3
11 Skylar Diggins-Smith^ G Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings (2013–2018)
Phoenix Mercury (2020–2022)
Seattle Storm (2024–present) 		1,510 292 5.2
12 Tamika Catchings* F Indiana Fever (2002–2016) 1,488 457 3.3
13 Danielle Robinson† G San Antonio Silver Stars/San Antonio Stars/Las Vegas Aces (2011–2016, 2020)
Phoenix Mercury (2017)
Minnesota Lynx (2018–2019)
Indiana Fever (2021–2022)
Atlanta Dream (2023–present) 		1,479 359 4.1
14 Alyssa Thomas^ G Connecticut Sun (2014–present) 1,462 320 4.6
15 Shannon Johnson G Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun (1999–2003)
San Antonio Silver Stars (2004–2006)
Detroit Shock (2007)
Houston Comets (2008)
Seattle Storm (2009) 		1,424 352 4.0
16 Tanisha Wright G Seattle Storm (2005–2014)
New York Liberty (2015–2016, 2019)
Minnesota Lynx (2018) 		1,422 457 3.1
17 Temeka Johnson G Washington Mystics (2005)
Los Angeles Sparks (2006–2008, 2015)
Phoenix Mercury (2009–2010)
Tulsa Shock (2011–2013)
Seattle Storm (2014) 		1,382 327 4.2
18 Jasmine Thomas† G Washington Mystics (2011–2012)
Atlanta Dream (2013–2014)
Connecticut Sun (2015–2022)
Los Angeles Sparks (2023) 		1,356 390 3.5
19 Briann January† G Indiana Fever (2009–2017)
Phoenix Mercury (2018–2019)
Connecticut Sun (2020–2021)
Seattle Storm (2022) 		1,339 393 3.4
20 Teresa Weatherspoon* G New York Liberty (1997–2003)
Los Angeles Sparks (2004) 		1,338 254 5.3
21 Dawn Staley* G Charlotte Sting (1999–2005)
Houston Comets (2005–2006) 		1,337 263 5.1
22 Kristi Toliver† G Chicago Sky (2009)
Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2016, 2021–2022)
Washington Mystics (2017–2019, 2023) 		1,300 380 3.4
23 Katie Smith* G/F Minnesota Lynx (1999–2005)
Detroit Shock (2005–2009)
Washington Mystics (2010)
Seattle Storm (2011–2012)
New York Liberty (2013) 		1,258 482 2.6
24 Vickie Johnson G/F New York Liberty (1997–2005)
San Antonio Silver Stars (2006–2009) 		1,205 410 2.9
25 Leilani Mitchell§ G New York Liberty (2008–2013)
Phoenix Mercury (2015, 2017–2019)
Washington Mystics (2016, 2020–2021) 		1,197 398 3.0

Progressive list of assist leaders

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This is a progressive list of assist leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[1]

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 WNBA season.
^ Active WNBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[c]
Team abbreviations Team(s) listed is the one player was on when she established the record.
ATL Atlanta Dream NYL New York Liberty
CHI Chicago Sky PHO Phoenix Mercury
CON Connecticut Sun SAC Sacramento Monarchs
LAS Los Angeles Sparks SEA Seattle Storm
MIN Minnesota Lynx WAS Washington Mystics
Assist leader at the end of every season
Season Year-by-year leader Assists Active player leader Total assists Career record Total assists Single-season record Assists Season
1997 Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL 173 Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL 173 Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL 173 Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL 173 1997
1998 Ticha Penicheiro000SAC 225 364 364 Ticha Penicheiro000SAC 225 1998
1999 226 569 569 226 1999
2000 236 773 773 236 2000
2001 Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL 203 976 976 2001
2002 Ticha Penicheiro000SAC 192 1,157 1,157 2002
2003 229 1,306 1,306 2003
2004 Nikki Teasley000LAS 207 Ticha Penicheiro000SAC 1,443 Ticha Penicheiro000SAC 1,443 2004
2005 Temeka Johnson000WAS 177 1,592 1,592 2005
2006 Nikki Teasley000WAS 183 1,708 1,708 2006
2007 Lindsay Whalen*000CON 169 1,852 1,852 2007
2008 Ticha Penicheiro000SAC 172 2,024 2,024 2008
2009 Sue Bird†000SEA 179 2,179 2,179 2009
2010 Ticha Penicheiro000LAS 220 2,399 2,399 2010
2011 Lindsay Whalen*000MIN 199 2,561 2,561 2011
2012 178 2,600 2,600 2012
2013 197 Lindsay Whalen*000MIN 1,722 2013
Diana Taurasi^000PHO 2013
2014 Lindsay Whalen*000MIN 188 Sue Bird†000SEA 2,068 2014
2015 Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI 198 2,215 2015
2016 Sue Bird†000SEA 196 2,411 2016
2017 Layshia Clarendon^000ATL 226 2,610 Sue Bird†000SEA 2,610 2017
2018 Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI 258 2,831 2,831 Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI 258 2018
2019 300 Diana Taurasi^000PHO 1,867 300 2019
2020 219 Sue Bird†000SEA 2,888 2,888 2020
2021 275 3,048 3,048 2021
2022 Natasha Cloud^000WAS 239 3,234 3,234 2022
2023 Alyssa Thomas^000CON 316 Courtney Vandersloot^000NYL 2,701 Alyssa Thomas^000CON 316 2023
2024 Caitlin Clark^000IND 337 2,849 Caitlin Clark^000IND 337 2024
Season Year-by-year leader Points Active player leader Total points Career record Total points Single-season record Points Season


Notes

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  1. ^ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until she has been fully retired for three calendar years.
  2. ^ Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.
  3. ^ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until she has been fully retired for three calendar years.

References

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  1. ^ "WNBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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