# List of WNBA career assists leaders

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 |
| § | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 |
WNBA most assists :
| Rank | Player | Pos | 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 | 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, 2016–2024) | 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) | 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

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 | 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 | 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$^§$000SEA | 179 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,179 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,179 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2009 |
| 2010 | Ticha Penicheiro000LAS | 220 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,399 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,399 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2010 |
| 2011 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 199 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,561 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,561 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2011 |
| 2012 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 178 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2012 |
| 2013 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 197 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 1,722 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2013 |
| 2013 | Diana Taurasi$^†$000PHO | 197 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 1,722 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2013 |
| 2014 | Lindsay Whalen*000MIN | 188 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,068 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2014 |
| 2015 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 198 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,215 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2015 |
| 2016 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 196 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,411 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 2,600 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2016 |
| 2017 | Layshia Clarendon^000ATL | 226 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,610 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,610 | Ticha Penicheiro000SAC | 236 | 2017 |
| 2018 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 258 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,831 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,831 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 258 | 2018 |
| 2019 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | Diana Taurasi$^†$000PHO | 1,867 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,831 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2019 |
| 2020 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 219 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,888 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 2,888 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2020 |
| 2021 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 275 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 3,048 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 3,048 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2021 |
| 2022 | Natasha Cloud^000WAS | 239 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 3,234 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 3,234 | Courtney Vandersloot^000CHI | 300 | 2022 |
| 2023 | Alyssa Thomas^000CON | 316 | Courtney Vandersloot^000NYL | 2,701 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 3,234 | Alyssa Thomas^000CON | 316 | 2023 |
| 2024 | Caitlin Clark^000IND | 337 | Courtney Vandersloot^000NYL | 2,849 | Sue Bird$^§$000SEA | 3,234 | 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 |