title: List of Women's National Basketball Association career assists leaders
text: # List of Women's National Basketball Association career assists leaders
  
  The following is a list of the players who have achieved the most assists during their WNBA careers.
  
  Statistics are accurate as of the end of the 2022 regular season.
  
  | ^ | Active WNBA player |
  | - | - |
  | * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
  | $^†$ | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration |
  
  WNBA most rebounds collected :
  
  | Rank | Player | Position | Team(s) played for (years) | Total assists | Games played | Assists per game average |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Sue $Bird^†$ | G | Seattle Storm (2002–2012, 2014–2018, 2020–2022) | 3,234 | 580 | 5.6 |
  | 2 | Ticha Penicheiro | G | Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009) Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011) Chicago Sky (2012) | 2,600 | 454 | 5.7 |
  | 3 | Courtney Vandersloot^ | G | Chicago Sky (2011–present) | 2,385 | 359 | 6.6 |
  | 4 | Lindsay Whalen* | G | Connecticut Sun (2004–2009) Minnesota Lynx (2010–2018) | 2,345 | 480 | 4.9 |
  | 5 | Diana Taurasi^ | G | Phoenix Mercury (2004–2014, 2016–present) | 2,151 | 503 | 4.3 |
  | 6 | Becky Hammon | G | New York Liberty (1999–2006) San Antonio Silver Stars/San Antonio Stars (2007–2014) | 1,708 | 450 | 3.8 |
  | 7 | 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 |
  | 8 | Candace Parker^ | F/C | Los Angeles Sparks (2008–2020) Chicago Sky (2021–present) | 1,567 | 392 | 4.0 |
  | 9 | Tamika Catchings* | F | Indiana Fever (2002–2016) | 1,488 | 457 | 3.3 |
  | 10 | 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 |
  | 11 | Tanisha Wright | G | Seattle Storm (2005–2014) New York Liberty (2015–2016, 2019) Minnesota Lynx (2018) | 1,422 | 457 | 3.1 |
  | 12 | 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 |
  | 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–present) | 1,375 | 327 | 4.2 |
  | 14 | Briann January^ | G | Indiana Fever (2009–2017) Phoenix Mercury (2018–2019) Connecticut Sun (2020–2021) Seattle Storm (2022–present) | 1,339 | 393 | 3.4 |
  | 15 | Teresa Weatherspoon* | G | New York Liberty (1997–2003) Los Angeles Sparks (2004) | 1,338 | 254 | 5.3 |
  | 16 | Dawn Staley* | G | Charlotte Sting (1999–2005) Houston Comets (2005–2006) | 1,337 | 263 | 5.1 |
  | 17 | Jasmine Thomas^ | G | Washington Mystics (2011–2012) Atlanta Dream (2013–2014) Connecticut Sun (2015–present) | 1,314 | 358 | 3.7 |
  | 18 | Kristi Toliver^ | G | Chicago Sky (2009) Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2016, 2020–present) Washington Mystics (2017–2019) Los Angeles Sparks (2021–) | 1,292 | 369 | 3.5 |
  | 19 | 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 |
  | 20 | Skylar Diggins-Smith^ | G | Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings (2013–2018) Phoenix Mercury (2020–present) | 1,253 | 252 | 5.0 |
  | 21 | Chelsea Gray^ | G | Connecticut Sun (2015) Los Angeles Sparks (2016–2020) Las Vegas Aces (2021–present) | 1,208 | 258 | 4.7 |
  | 22 | Vickie Johnson | G/F | New York Liberty (1997–2005) San Antonio Silver Stars (2006–2009) | 1,205 | 410 | 2.9 |
  | 23 | Leilani Mitchell^ | G | New York Liberty (2008–2013) Phoenix Mercury (2015, 2017–2019) Washington Mystics (2016, 2020–2021) | 1,197 | 398 | 3.0 |
  | 24 | Renee Montgomery | G | Minnesota Lynx (2009, 2015–2017) Connecticut Sun (2010–2014) Atlanta Dream (2018–2019) | 1,140 | 364 | 3.1 |
  | 25 | Swin Cash* | F | Detroit Shock (2002–2007) Seattle Storm (2008–2011) Chicago Sky (2012–2013) Atlanta Dream (2014) New York Liberty (2014–2016) | 1,133 | 479 | 2.4 |
  
  ## Progressive list of assist leaders
  
  This is a progressive list of assist leaders showing how the record increased through the years.
  
      Statistics accurate as of September 8, 2022.
  
  | ^ | Active WNBA player |
  | - | - |
  | * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
  | $^†$ | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration |
  
  Team abbreviations :
  
  | ATL | Atlanta Dream |
  | - | - |
  | CHI | Chicago Sky |
  | CON | Connecticut Sun |
  | LAS | Los Angeles Sparks |
  | MIN | Minnesota Lynx |
  | NYL | New York Liberty |
  | PHO | Phoenix Mercury |
  | SAC | Sacramento Monarchs |
  | SEA | Seattle Storm |
  | 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 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 364 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 364 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 225 | 1998 |
  | 1999 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 226 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 569 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 569 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 226 | 1999 |
  | 2000 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 773 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 773 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2000 |
  | 2001 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 203 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 976 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 976 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2001 |
  | 2002 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 192 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 1,157 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 1,157 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2002 |
  | 2003 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 229 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 1,306 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 1,306 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2003 |
  | 2004 | Nikki Teasley000LAS | 207 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,443 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,443 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2004 |
  | 2005 | Temeka Johnson000WAS | 177 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,592 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,592 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2005 |
  | 2006 | Nikki Teasley000WAS | 183 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,708 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,708 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2006 |
  | 2007 | Lindsay Whalen*000CON | 169 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,852 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 1,852 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2007 |
  | 2008 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 172 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,024 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,024 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2008 |
  | 2009 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 179 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,179 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,179 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2009 |
  | 2010 | Ticha Penicheiro000LAS | 220 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,399 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,399 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2010 |
  | 2011 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 199 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,561 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,561 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2011 |
  | 2012 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 178 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2012 |
  | 2013 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 197 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 1,722 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2013 |
  | 2013 | Diana Taurasi^000PHO | 197 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 1,722 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2013 |
  | 2014 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 188 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,068 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2014 |
  | 2015 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 198 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,215 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2015 |
  | 2016 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 196 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,411 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2016 |
  | 2017 | Layshia Clarendon^000ATL | 226 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,610 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,610 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2017 |
  | 2018 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 258 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,831 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,831 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 258 | 2018 |
  | 2019 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | Diana Taurasi^000PHO | 1,867 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,831 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2019 |
  | 2020 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 219 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,888 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 2,888 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2020 |
  | 2021 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 275 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 3,048 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 3,048 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2021 |
  | 2022 | Natasha Cloud^000WAS | 239 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 3,234 | Sue $Bird^†000SEA$ | 3,234 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2022 |
  | Season | Year-by-year leader | Points | Active player leader | Total points | Career record | Total points | Single-season record | Points | Season |
  