# List of WNBA career steals leaders

This article provides two lists:
    A list of Women's National Basketball Association players by total career regular season steals.
    A progressive list of steals leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.

## Steals leaders

This is a list of Women's National Basketball Association players by total career regular season leaders in steals.
    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 |
| § | Eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 |
| Rank | Player | Position(s) | Team(s) played for (years) | Total steals | Games played | Steals per game average |
| 1 | Tamika Catchings* | F | Indiana Fever (2002–2016) | 1,074 | 457 | 2.35 |
| 2 | Ticha Penicheiro | G | Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009) Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011) Chicago Sky (2012) | 764 | 454 | 1.68 |
| 3 | Sue Bird$^§$ | G | Seattle Storm (2002–2022) | 725 | 580 | 1.25 |
| 4 | Alana Beard | G/F | Washington Mystics (2004–2011) Los Angeles Sparks (2012–2019) | 709 | 420 | 1.69 |
| 5 | Sheryl Swoopes* | F/G | Houston Comets (1997–2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Tulsa Shock (2011) | 657 | 324 | 2.03 |
| 6 | Jia Perkins | G | Charlotte Sting (2004–2005) Chicago Sky (2006–2010) San Antonio Stars (2011–2015) Minnesota Lynx (2016–2017) | 634 | 417 | 1.52 |
| 7 | Sancho Lyttle | F | Houston Comets (2005–2008) Atlanta Dream (2009–2017) Phoenix Mercury (2018–2019) | 630 | 392 | 1.61 |
| 8 | Angel McCoughtry | F/G | Atlanta Dream (2009–2019) Las Vegas Aces (2020–2021) Minnesota Lynx (2022) | 627 | 311 | 2.02 |
| 9 | Katie Douglas | G/F | Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun (2001–2007, 2014) Indiana Fever (2008–2013) | 623 | 412 | 1.51 |
| 10 | DeLisha Milton-Jones | F | Los Angeles Sparks (1999–2004, 2008–2012) Washington Mystics (2005–2007) San Antonio Silver Stars (2013) New York Liberty (2013–2014) Atlanta Dream (2014–2015) | 619 | 499 | 1.24 |
| 11 | Nneka Ogwumike^ | F | Los Angeles Sparks (2012–2023) Seattle Storm (2024–present) | 618 | 393 | 1.57 |
| 12 | DeWanna Bonner^ | F/G | Phoenix Mercury (2009–2019) Connecticut Sun (2020–present) | 603 | 502 | 1.20 |
| 13 | Taj McWilliams-Franklin | F/C | Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun (1999–2006) Los Angeles Sparks (2007) Washington Mystics (2008) Detroit Shock (2008–2009) New York Liberty (2010) Minnesota Lynx (2011–2012) | 580 | 440 | 1.32 |
| 14 | Tully Bevilaqua | G | Cleveland Rockers (1998) Portland Fire (2000–2002) Seattle Storm (2003–2004) Indiana Fever (2005–2010) San Antonio Silver Stars (2011–2012) | 573 | 425 | 1.35 |
| 15 | Courtney Vandersloot^ | G | Chicago Sky (2011–2022) New York Liberty (2023–present) | 533 | 429 | 1.20 |
| 16 | Yolanda Griffith* | C/F | Sacramento Monarchs (1999–2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Indiana Fever (2009) | 529 | 311 | 1.70 |
| 17 | Candace Parker$^†$ | F/C | Los Angeles Sparks (2008–2020) Chicago Sky (2021–2022) Las Vegas Aces (2023) | 523 | 410 | 1.28 |
| 18 | Diana Taurasi$^†$ | G | Phoenix Mercury (2004–2024) | 518 | 565 | 0.92 |
| 19 | Lindsay Whalen* | G | Connecticut Sun (2004–2009) Minnesota Lynx (2010–2018) | 501 | 480 | 1.04 |
| 20 | Shannon Johnson | G | Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun (1999–2003) San Antonio Silver Stars (2004–2006) Detroit Shock (2007) Houston Comets (2008) Seattle Storm (2009) | 494 | 352 | 1.40 |
| 20 | Alyssa Thomas^ | G | Connecticut Sun (2014–present) | 494 | 320 | 1.54 |
| 22 | Lisa Leslie* | C | Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2009) | 492 | 363 | 1.36 |
| 23 | Nykesha Sales | F/G | Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun (1999–2007) | 490 | 278 | 1.76 |
| 23 | Sylvia Fowles$^§$ | C | Chicago Sky (2008–2014) Minnesota Lynx (2015–2022) | 490 | 408 | 1.20 |
| 25 | Becky Hammon* | G | New York Liberty (1999–2006) San Antonio Stars (2007–2014) | 488 | 450 | 1.08 |

## Progressive list of steal leaders

This is a progressive list of assist leaders showing how the record increased through the years.
    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 |
| § | Eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 |
Team abbreviations :
| ATL | Atlanta Dream | HOU | Houston Comets | MIN | Minnesota Lynx |
| CHI | Chicago Sky | IND | Indiana Fever | NYL | New York Liberty |
| CON | Connecticut Sun | LAS | Los Angeles Sparks | SAC | Sacramento Monarchs |
| DET | Detroit Shock | MIA | Miami Sol | SEA | Seattle Storm |
Steals leader at the end of every season :
| Season | Year-by-year leader | Steals | Active player leader | Total steals | Career record | Total steals | Single-season record | Steals | Season |
| 1997 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 85 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 85 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 85 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 85 | 1997 |
| 1998 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 185 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 185 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 1998 |
| 1999 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 78 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 263 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 263 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 1999 |
| 2000 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 87 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 328 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 328 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2000 |
| 2001 | Debbie Black000MIA | 82 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 383 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 383 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2001 |
| 2002 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 94 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 425 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 425 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2002 |
| 2003 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 77 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 453 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 453 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2003 |
| 2004 | Yolanda Griffith*000SAC | 75 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 465 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 465 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2004 |
| 2004 | Nykesha Sales000CON | 75 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 465 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 465 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2004 |
| 2005 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 90 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 520 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 520 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2005 |
| 2006 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 94 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 584 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 584 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2006 |
| 2007 | Loree Moore000NYL | 75 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 589 | Sheryl Swoopes*000HOU | 589 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2007 |
| 2008 | Alexis Hornbuckle000DET | 79 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 655 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 655 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2008 |
| 2009 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 99 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 685 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 685 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2009 |
| 2010 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 77 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 728 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 728 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2010 |
| 2011 | Epiphanny Prince$^†$000CHI | 79 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 775 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 775 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2011 |
| 2012 | Sancho Lyttle000ATL | 82 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 845 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 845 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2012 |
| 2013 | Angel McCoughtry000ATL | 89 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 930 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 930 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2013 |
| 2014 | Sancho Lyttle000ATL | 74 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 957 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 957 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2014 |
| 2014 | Angel McCoughtry000ATL | 74 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 957 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 957 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2014 |
| 2015 | Angel McCoughtry000ATL | 72 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,012 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,012 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2015 |
| 2016 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 62 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2016 |
| 2017 | Alana Beard000LAS | 71 | Alana Beard000LAS | 653 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2017 |
| 2018 | Maya Moore000MIN | 57 | Alana Beard000LAS | 697 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2018 |
| 2019 | Natasha Howard^000SEA | 74 | Alana Beard000LAS | 709 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2019 |
| 2020 | Alyssa Thomas^000CON | 42 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 659 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2020 |
| 2021 | Brittney Sykes^000LAS | 58 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 687 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2021 |
| 2022 | Brittney Sykes^000LAS | 65 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 725 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2022 |
| 2023 | Jordin Canada^000LAS | 86 | DeWanna Bonner^000CON | 556 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2023 |
| 2024 | Arike Ogunbowale^000DAL | 81 | Nneka Ogwumike^000SEA | 618 | Tamika Catchings*000IND | 1,074 | Teresa Weatherspoon*000NYL | 100 | 2024 |
| Season | Year-by-year leader | Steals | Active player leader | Total steals | Career record | Total steals | Single-season record | Steals | Season |