Rank | Player | Team(s) played for (years) | Total steals | Games played | Steals per game average |
1 | Tamika Catchings* | Indiana Fever (2002–2016) | 1,074 | 457 | 2.35 |
2 | Ticha Penicheiro | Sacramento Monarchs (1998–2009) Los Angeles Sparks (2010–2011) Chicago Sky (2012) | 764 | 454 | 1.68 |
3 | Sue Bird† | Seattle Storm (2002–2022)[b] | 725 | 580 | 1.25 |
4 | Alana Beard | Washington Mystics (2004–2011) Los Angeles Sparks (2012–2019) | 709 | 420 | 1.69 |
5 | Sheryl Swoopes* | Houston Comets (1997–2007)[c] Seattle Storm (2008) Tulsa Shock (2011) | 657 | 324 | 2.03 |
6 | Jia Perkins | Charlotte Sting (2004–2005) Chicago Sky (2006–2010) San Antonio Stars (2011–2015) Minnesota Lynx (2016–2017) | 634 | 417 | 1.52 |
7 | Sancho Lyttle | Houston Comets (2005–2008) Atlanta Dream (2009–2017) Phoenix Mercury (2018–2019) | 630 | 392 | 1.61 |
8 | Angel McCoughtry^ | Atlanta Dream (2009–2019) Las Vegas Aces (2020–2021) Minnesota Lynx (2022) | 627 | 311 | 2.02 |
9 | Katie Douglas | Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun (2001–2007, 2014) Indiana Fever (2008–2013) | 623 | 412 | 1.51 |
10 | DeLisha Milton-Jones | 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 | Taj McWilliams-Franklin | 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 |
12 | Tully Bevilaqua | 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 |
13 | Yolanda Griffith* | Sacramento Monarchs (1999–2007) Seattle Storm (2008) Indiana Fever (2009) | 529 | 311 | 1.70 |
14 | DeWanna Bonner^ | Phoenix Mercury (2009–2019) Connecticut Sun (2020–present) | 514 | 422 | 1.22 |
15 | Lindsay Whalen* | Connecticut Sun (2004–2009) Minnesota Lynx (2010–2018) | 501 | 480 | 1.04 |
16 | Candace Parker^ | Los Angeles Sparks (2008–2020) Chicago Sky (2021–present) | 496 | 392 | 1.27 |
17 | Shannon Johnson | 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 |
18 | Lisa Leslie* | Los Angeles Sparks (1997–2009)[d] | 492 | 363 | 1.36 |
19 | Nykesha Sales | Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun (1999–2007) | 490 | 278 | 1.76 |
Sylvia Fowles† | Chicago Sky (2008–2014) Minnesota Lynx (2015–2022) | 408 | 1.20 |
21 | Becky Hammon* | New York Liberty (1999–2006) San Antonio Stars (2007–2014) | 488 | 450 | 1.08 |
22 | Nneka Ogwumike^ | Los Angeles Sparks (2012–present) | 487 | 320 | 1.52 |
23 | Diana Taurasi^ | Phoenix Mercury (2004–present)[e] | 482 | 503 | 0.96 |
24 | Penny Taylor | Cleveland Rockers (2001–2003) Phoenix Mercury (2004–2016)[f] | 480 | 355 | 1.35 |
25 | Sophia Young-Malcolm | San Antonio Stars (2006–2015) | 477 | 301 | 1.58 |