INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart 30 dribbles with the ball in the first half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826080
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart 30 dribbles with the ball in the first half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826080
As New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart scaled a new milestone, the previous record holder, WNBA icon Candace Parker, could no longer conceal her thoughts.
“Stewie decided she had the audacity to move into 10th on the all-time WNBA scoring list in front of me… while I was calling the game,” Parker said during a recent episode of her Post Moves with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston podcast. “It was unbelievable. I gave her a hug after the game.”
The 31-year-old veteran forward needed 14 points on July 31 to surpass Parker’s 6,574 points. Despite the Liberty's 104-99 loss to the Las Vegas Aces that night, Stewart walked out with a team-high 26 points, 11 rebounds, and one assist.
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 08: Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker 3 shoots the ball in action during the first half in game 5 of the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA Semifinals between the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky on September 8, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire WNBA: SEP 08 Playoffs Semifinals Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky Icon22090825
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 08: Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker 3 shoots the ball in action during the first half in game 5 of the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA Semifinals between the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky on September 8, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire WNBA: SEP 08 Playoffs Semifinals Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky Icon22090825
And that comes as no surprise given Stewart's averaging 21.6PPG this season and 20.6PPG across 323 career games played. Meanwhile, Candace had to play 410 games to reach 6574 points and become the league’s 10th all-time scorer.
But Stewart (6,588) now replaces Parker, joining Diana Taurasi (10,646), Tina Charles (8,396), DeWanna Bonner (8,088), Nneka Ogwumike (7,754), Tina Thompson (7,488), Tamika Catchings (7,380), Candice Dupree (6,895), Cappie Pondexter (6,811) and Sue Bird (6,803).
Surely Parker found a unique way to credit Stewart’s achievement. But she also felt this was inevitable given the league’s current scheduling.
Candace Parker Thinks the Scoring Surge Will Go Higher
The difference in the number of games it took Parker and Stewart to reach the No.10 spot is one thing. But in most of Parker’s tenure, each team played 34 regular-season games a year (2008-19). The number went up to 40 in 2023, and will be 44 this season, allowing the scoring surge to be higher.
“The amount of games and all that stuff that is being added to the schedule,” Parker added to the same segment. “That's the way it's supposed to be. I'm really proud of where the WNBA is now. Now, number 11 is going to be 9,997 in a blink of an eye.”
So far, the Liberty has 12 more regular-season games to play. If Stewart maintains her scoring consistency and plays all 12 games, she might very well be able to hike the All-time scoring list even higher.
Do you think she’ll be able to? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy