List of WNBA annual steals leaders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In basketball, a steal is a "defensive action" that causes the opponent to turn the ball over.[1] The Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) steals title is awarded to the player with the highest steals per game (spg) average in a given season.
The highest league-leading steals per game was Teresa Weatherspoon's 3.33 steals per game in the 1998 season. The lowest league-leading steals per game was 2.21, achieved by Nykesha Sales and Yolanda Griffith in the 2004 season. Teresa Weatherspoon also holds the record for total steals in a season (100) in the 1998 season.
Tamika Catchings has won the most steals titles, with eight. Angel McCoughtry, Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada, Sancho Lyttle, Sheryl Swoopes, Teresa Weatherspoon, and Yolanda Griffith have each won the steals title two times. Tamika Catchings also holds the record for consecutive seasons leading the league in steals with three, accomplishing this in the 2005 season, 2006 season, and the 2007 season. She accomplished this again two years in a row in the 2009 season, and the 2010 season. Other players that have led the league in steals in consecutive seasons include Brittney Sykes in the 2021 season, 2022 season, and Teresa Weatherspoon in the 1997 season, 1998 season.
Key
| ^ | Denotes player who is still active in the WNBA | |||||
| * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | |||||
| † | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a] | |||||
| § | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | |||||
| Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the assists leader up to and including that season | |||||
| G | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center | |
Annual leaders
Multiple-time leaders
| Rank | Player | Team | Times leader | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamika Catchings | Indiana Fever | 8 | 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016 |
| 2 | Angel McCoughtry | Atlanta Dream | 2 | 2012, 2014 |
| Brittney Sykes | Los Angeles Sparks | 2021, 2022 | ||
| Jordin Canada | Seattle Storm (1) / Los Angeles Sparks (1) | 2019, 2023 | ||
| Sancho Lyttle | Atlanta Dream | 2011, 2015 | ||
| Sheryl Swoopes | Houston Comets | 2000, 2003 | ||
| Teresa Weatherspoon | New York Liberty | 1997, 1998 | ||
| Yolanda Griffith | Sacramento Monarchs | 1999, 2004 |
See also
Notes
- A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until she has been fully retired for two calendar years.