Which Player Has WNBA Most Assists in a Season?
It’s always a great talent in the WNBA, always great athletes that set a higher bar for basketball excellence. Assists are one of the many stats that matter because they illustrate teamwork. Basketball assist refers to a pass that results in a basket and displays a player’s prowess of taking their team higher through an effective pass. In the WNBA players such as Ticha Penicheiro, setting a single-season record for assists with 236 in 1998, and Courtney Vandersloot, who year after year ranks the winner of the assists race are perfect examples of this skill.
WNBA Most Assists in a Season: Player Details and Records
Over the years, different WNBA players have raised their help tallies to new records in a season. Among breakout WNBA history players, Courtney Vandersloot averaged over 10 assists a game in the 2020 season, the first to do so. Her playmaking ability this year has raised the bar of the team’s success through playmaking ability. Now let’s take a look at the WNBA’s all-time assist leaders and their greatness. Below is a detailed breakdown of the top players with the most assists in a WNBA season:
10. Natasha Cloud
Natasha has been playing since 2015 and is recognized as a prominent player for the Washington Mystics. When talking about her career, one thing that comes up is her phenomenal role in leading the Mystics to their first-ever WNBA Championship in 2019. That was also her best moment when she showcased her awesome passing skills and awe-inspiring defense abilities to help her team win Game 5 in the 2019 WNBA Finals from behind, therefore allowing the franchise to have victory finally.
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 10 |
Player | Natasha Cloud |
Teams Played For | Washington Mystics |
Assists | 1522 |
9. Cappie Pondexter
Cappie Pondexter played in the WNBA from 2006 to 2018, obviously her time as a dynamic guard with Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, and New York Liberty teams. Among others in her career were her performances making the Phoenix Mercury get back-to-back championships, where her shooting ability and playmaking proved to put special skills on display. The outstanding game was during the 2007 WNBA Finals when it was needed her play made Phoenix finally win its first championship.
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 9 |
Player | Cappie Pondexter |
Teams Played For | Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, New York Liberty |
Assists | 1578 |
8. Chelsea Gray
WNBA 2015 LA Sparks, Las Vegas Aces player Chelsea Gray seems to be one of the top players in the league for years now and she has played in the WNBA. One of the prime contributors in Marcus entering the Vegas Aces Las Vegas WNBA championship (she played a major role in 2022). Her game-winning clutch assists and score to finish off the WNBA Finals 2022 was the best game ever by her in the fourth game of the WNBA Finals 2022
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 8 |
Player | Chelsea Gray |
Teams Played For | Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces |
Assists | 1631 |
7. Candace Parker
The offense player Candace Parker started her journey from 2008 to the present. She played for 2 teams Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky. In 2021, she led the Chicago Sky to their first WNBA Championship as they continued as a scorer, as well as a good playmaker, throughout her career. The highlight of her match came in Game 4 of the 2021 WNBA Finals, where her all-around play, most notably some key plays on offense and defense, helped get the Sky to leave its mark.
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 7 |
Player | Candace Parker |
Teams Played For | Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky |
Assists | 1634 |
6. Becky Hammon
Becky started her WNBA career in 1999 through 2014, where she left herself a legacy as one of the league’s top leaders. She was a 6-time WNBA All-Star. Her constant leadership was the pinnacle of her career, and her teams reached amazing heights with her. Her crown jewel of a game came in the 2008 playoffs, where she etched her name as a game-changing player and a catalyst in pivotal moments during nail-biting phases.
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 6 |
Player | Becky Hammon |
Teams Played For | San Antonio Stars, New York Liberty |
Assists | 1708 |
5. Lindsay Whalen
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 5 |
Player | Lindsay Whalen |
Teams Played For | Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx |
Assists | 2348 |
The Lynx player Lindsay Whalen’s career spanned from 2004 to 2018 during which she won 4 titles with Minnesota. Lindsay’s career highlight was in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals where she played a prominent role in helping her team win the championship
4. Diana Taurasi
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 4 |
Player | Diana Taurasi |
Teams Played For | Phoenix Mercury |
Assists | 2394 |
The basketball player Diana Taurasi has been playing since 2004. She established herself as one of the great players after going through 3 championships, with the Phoenix Mercury and Baylor. Taurasi’s style was most highlighted in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA finals.
3. Ticha Penicheiro
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 3 |
Player | Ticha Penicheiro |
Teams Played For | Sacramento Monarchs, Los Angeles Sparks |
Assists | 2599 |
Ticha played from 1998 to 2012. The top highlight of her game was guiding the Sacramento Monarchs to its very first WNBA Championship after she became the main player of the team through the use of her special playmaking skills. She had an example; a prime case of her most notable of matches in the 2005 WNBA Finals.
2. Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot professional basketball player started in 2011. In 2020, she made history with 300 assists in a season as her 2020 high point, a highlight that further cemented her reputation as one of the top facilitators around. The 2021 WNBA Finals are representative of some of her outstanding performances.
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 2 |
Player | Courtney Vandersloot |
Teams Played For | Chicago Sky, New York Liberty |
Assists | 2850 |
1. Sue Bird
The WNBA Player Sue Bird played from 2002 to 2022 and in that span, became the all-time assist leader. She was one of the main reasons the Seattle Storm won 4 WNBA championships becoming one of the best point guards in the league. Her performance led her to emerge as her most famous match come Game 5 of the 2018 WNBA Finals.
Attribute | Detail |
Rank | 1 |
Player | Sue Bird |
Teams Played For | Seattle Storm |
Assists | 3234 |
Most Assists by a Rookie in a WNBA Season
Entering the league as a rookie means a lot of pressure, to fasten up to professional basketball speed and physicality. But despite that, some newcomers have been showing fantastic court vision and composure. 2024 standout rookie Caitlin Clark set a new rookie record mark for most assists in a WNBA season with 337. From the outset, she was in the league’s combined pack of great playmakers.
Attribute | Details |
Name | Caitlin Clark |
Team | Iowa Hawkeyes (College) |
Assists | 337 |
List of WNBA Players with Most Assists in a Season
Aside from our top ten there certainly is a long list of remarkable WNBA players with the most assists in a season. Below are some honorable mentions:
Rank | Player | Position | Teams Played For | Years Played | Total Assists | Games Played | Assists Per Game Average |
25 | Leilani Mitchell | Guard | New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Washington Mystics | 2008–2021 | 1,197 | 398 | 3.0 |
24 | Vickie Johnson | Guard/Forward | New York Liberty, San Antonio Silver Stars | 1997–2009 | 1,205 | 410 | 2.9 |
23 | Katie Smith | Guard/Forward | Minnesota Lynx, Detroit Shock, Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm, New York Liberty | 1999–2013 | 1,258 | 482 | 2.6 |
22 | Kristi Toliver† | Guard | Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics | 2009–2023 | 1,300 | 380 | 3.4 |
21 | Dawn Staley | Guard | Charlotte Sting, Houston Comets | 1999–2006 | 1,337 | 263 | 5.1 |
20 | Teresa Weatherspoon | Guard | New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks | 1997–2004 | 1,338 | 254 | 5.3 |
19 | Briann January | Guard | Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm | 2009–2022 | 1,339 | 393 | 3.4 |
18 | Jasmine Thomas | Guard | Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Sun, Los Angeles Sparks | 2011–2023 | 1,356 | 390 | 3.5 |
17 | Temeka Johnson | Guard | Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Tulsa Shock, Seattle Storm | 2005–2014 | 1,382 | 327 | 4.2 |
16 | Tanisha Wright | Guard | Seattle Storm, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx | 2005–2019 | 1,422 | 457 | 3.1 |
15 | Shannon Johnson | Guard | Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun, San Antonio Silver Stars, Detroit Shock, Houston Comets, Seattle Storm | 1999–2009 | 1,424 | 352 | 4.0 |
14 | Alyssa Thomas | Guard | Connecticut Sun | 2014–Present | 1,462 | 320 | 4.6 |
13 | Danielle Robinson | Guard | San Antonio Silver Stars, Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream | 2011–Present | 1,479 | 359 | 4.1 |
12 | Tamika Catchings | Forward | Indiana Fever | 2002–2016 | 1,488 | 457 | 3.3 |
11 | Skylar Diggins-Smith | Guard | Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm | 2013–Present | 1,510 | 292 | 5.2 |
10 | Natasha Cloud | Guard | Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury | 2015–Present | 1,521 | 286 | 5.3 |
9 | Cappie Pondexter | Guard | Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty, Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Indiana Fever | 2006–2018 | 1,578 | 416 | 3.8 |
8 | Chelsea Gray | Guard | Connecticut Sun, Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces | 2015–Present | 1,631 | 325 | 5.0 |
7 | Candace Parker | Forward/Center | Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces | 2008–Present | 1,634 | 410 | 4.0 |
6 | Becky Hammon | Guard | New York Liberty, San Antonio Silver Stars | 1999–2014 | 1,708 | 450 | 3.8 |
5 | Lindsay Whalen | Guard | Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx | 2004–2018 | 2,345 | 480 | 4.9 |
4 | Diana Taurasi | Guard | Phoenix Mercury | 2004–Present | 2,394 | 565 | 4.2 |
3 | Ticha Penicheiro | Guard | Sacramento Monarchs, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky | 1998–2012 | 2,600 | 454 | 5.7 |
2 | Courtney Vandersloot | Guard | Chicago Sky, New York Liberty | 2011–Present | 2,849 | 429 | 6.6 |
1 | Sue Bird | Guard | Seattle Storm | 2002–2022 | 3,234 | 580 | 5.6 |
Q Who holds the record for most assists in a single WNBA season?
Caitlin Clark has the highest WNBA record with 337 assists in the 2024 season.
Q What are the most assists per game in a WNBA season?
On July 17, 2024, Caitlin Clark made a new WNBA record with 19 assists in one game.
Q Who has the most assists in a veteran WNBA season?
Sue Bird(2002-2022) has a record of 300 assists in 2003.
Q How many assists did the WNBA’s all-time leader have in a season?
Caitlin Clark has the record of 337 assists in 2024 in the WNBA
Q What does “most assists in a WNBA season” mean?
The highest total assists recorded by a player in a single WNBA regular season which is of 6 months average.
Q Who holds the record for most assists in a single WNBA season by a rookie?
Caitlin Clark has set the new rookie records with 337 assists and 223 turnovers.