diff --git a/backend/app/routers/projects.py b/backend/app/routers/projects.py
index b95b32b..2f85ce0 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/projects.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/projects.py
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ def _project_load_options():
         selectinload(Project.tasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.comments).selectinload(TaskComment.user),
         selectinload(Project.tasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.comments).selectinload(TaskComment.user),
         selectinload(Project.tasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks),
-        selectinload(Project.tasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments),
-        selectinload(Project.tasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments),
+        selectinload(Project.tasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments).selectinload(ProjectTaskAssignment.user),
+        selectinload(Project.tasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments).selectinload(ProjectTaskAssignment.user),
         selectinload(Project.members),
     ]
 
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ def _task_load_options():
         selectinload(ProjectTask.comments).selectinload(TaskComment.user),
         selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.comments),
         selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks),
-        selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments),
-        selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments),
+        selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments).selectinload(ProjectTaskAssignment.user),
+        selectinload(ProjectTask.subtasks).selectinload(ProjectTask.assignments).selectinload(ProjectTaskAssignment.user),
     ]
 
 
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/project_task_assignment.py b/backend/app/schemas/project_task_assignment.py
index 4d21f1f..27bbaff 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/project_task_assignment.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/project_task_assignment.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field, model_validator
 from datetime import datetime
 
 
@@ -17,3 +17,19 @@ class TaskAssignmentResponse(BaseModel):
     created_at: datetime
 
     model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
+
+    @model_validator(mode="before")
+    @classmethod
+    def resolve_user_name(cls, data):  # type: ignore[override]
+        """Populate user_name from eagerly loaded user relationship."""
+        if hasattr(data, "user") and data.user is not None:
+            if not getattr(data, "user_name", None):
+                data = dict(
+                    id=data.id,
+                    task_id=data.task_id,
+                    user_id=data.user_id,
+                    assigned_by=data.assigned_by,
+                    user_name=data.user.username,
+                    created_at=data.created_at,
+                )
+        return data
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/projects/TaskRow.tsx b/frontend/src/components/projects/TaskRow.tsx
index 8a94f01..ebea04c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/projects/TaskRow.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/projects/TaskRow.tsx
@@ -135,12 +135,21 @@ export default function TaskRow({
         {hasSubtasks ? `${completedSubtasks}/${task.subtasks.length}` : '—'}
       </span>
 
-      {/* Assignee avatars */}
-      {task.assignments && task.assignments.length > 0 && (
-        <span className="hidden sm:flex shrink-0">
-          <AssigneeAvatars assignments={task.assignments} max={3} />
-        </span>
-      )}
+      {/* Assigned column */}
+      <span className="hidden sm:flex items-center gap-1.5 shrink-0 w-24 justify-end">
+        {task.assignments && task.assignments.length > 0 ? (
+          <>
+            <AssigneeAvatars assignments={task.assignments} max={2} />
+            <span className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground truncate max-w-[60px]">
+              {task.assignments.length === 1
+                ? (task.assignments[0].user_name ?? 'Unknown')
+                : `${task.assignments.length} people`}
+            </span>
+          </>
+        ) : (
+          <span className="text-[11px] text-transparent">—</span>
+        )}
+      </span>
 
       {/* Mobile-only: compact priority dot + overdue indicator */}
       <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 sm:hidden shrink-0">