Mercury’s Diana Taurasi moves to 4th spot on WNBA all-time assists list

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi jumped to fourth on the WNBA’s all-time assists list after a dime during the second quarter of Monday night’s loss against the New York Liberty.

Despite the Mercury’s loss against the Liberty, Taurasi finished the game with six assists, landing her the fourth spot on the list with 2,354 assists overall. She passed former Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen on the list.

The WNBA veteran list of achievements doesn’t stop there. On Aug. 3, 2023, she became the first player in WNBA history to score 10,000 career points following the Mercury’s 91-71 win over the Atlanta Dream.

Taurasi and her teammates, center Brittney Griner and guard/forward Kahleah Copper, recently returned from the Paris Olympics where they played for the USA women’s basketball team and won gold. Taurasi is the only basketball player with six Olympic gold medals. 

Top 10 WNBA all-time assists leaders

1. Sue Bird (3,234)
2. Courtney Vandersloot (2,807)
3. Ticha Penicheiro (2,599)
4. Diana Taurasi (2,354)
5. Lindsay Whalen (2,348)
6. Becky Hammon (1,708)
7. Candace Parker (1,634)
8. Chelsea Gray (1,581)
9. Cappie Pondexter (1,578)
10. Tamika Catchings (1,488)

Throughout her 20-year WNBA career, Taurasi has cemented her legacy as an all-time great within the league.

Just last week, the 42-year-old guard put up 23 points, leading to the Mercury’s 86-68 win over the Chicago Sky and making her the oldest player in NBA and WNBA history to record at least 20 points and five assists with zero turnovers. Former NBA legend John Stockton held the record. 

Phoenix holds the sixth seed in the WNBA playoffs and according to ESPN, the Mercury have a 98% chance of making it to the postseason.

The Mercury will take on the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night at the Footprint Center as the team continues its fight to make the playoffs.