This season, Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi has become the WNBA’s all-time points leader and Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird is closing in on the same distinction for assists.
This year could also feature several single-season records. Here is a look at the players who are chasing history with less than three weeks left in the regular season:
Total Assists: Atlanta Dream guard Layshia Clarendon leads the WNBA in assists with 203. A first-time All-Star selection this season, Clarendon needs to average 6.8 assists in the Dream’s final five games to break Ticha Penicheiro’s single-season WNBA record of 236 with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2000.
Assist Average: Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot is the WNBA leader in assist average at 7.9 per game, thanks in part to a current streak of five consecutive 10-assist performances. She needs to average just under 8.6 assists in the Sky’s remaining seven games to topple Penicheiro’s record of 8.0 assists with Sacramento in 2002.
Rebounding: Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones has a chance to break WNBA records for rebounding average and total rebounds, both held by Tina Charles with Connecticut in 2010. Jones tops the WNBA with 11.74 rebounds per game; Charles’ record is 11.71. With a league-high 317 rebounds, Jones is on pace to finish with 399; Charles’ record is 398.
Field Goal Percentage: Storm forward Crystal Langhorne and Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles are both challenging Tamika Raymond’s record of 66.8 percent with Minnesota in 2003. Langhorne is shooting a WNBA-best 67.3 percent from the field, followed by Fowles at 66.1 percent.
