Margo Dydek
Encyclopedia
Małgorzata Dydek known as Margo Dydek in the United States, was a Polish
international professional basketball player. Standing tall, she was famous for being the tallest
active professional female basketball player in the world. She played center
position for the Los Angeles Sparks
in the WNBA and was a coach for the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League.
of the now defunct ABL
, and in Poland. Her younger sister (standing 6'6") graduated from the University of Texas-El Paso where she played basketball and played in Spain professionally in the 2000s.
She was awarded the Polish Gold Cross of Merit (1999).
by the Utah Starzz
(the franchise was subsequently transferred to San Antonio).
On 16 April 2005, during the 2005 WNBA Draft
, the San Antonio Silver Stars
traded Dydek to the Connecticut Sun
in exchange for the Sun's first-round draft pick, Katie Feenstra
from Liberty University
.
Dydek held the record for most blocks in a WNBA career, with 877 blocks in 323 games.
Dydek led the WNBA in blocks 9 times (1998–2003, 2005–07)
Dydek led the WNBA in blocks/game 8 times (1998–2003, 2006–07)
Dydek led the WNBA in Defensive Rebounds (214) in 2001
On 27 August 2008 Dydek signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
following time away from basketball due to her pregnancy (she gave birth to a son in April 2008).
starting with the 1998–99 season. She continued to play with the club through several sponsorship changes; since then, the club has taken the names Polpharma and Lotos.
In 1999–2001, she averaged 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds for Gdynia in FIBA
Euroleague
play. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Polish League Finals of the 1999–2000 season. In 1999 she was also named the best female basketball player in Europe by the Italian sports magazine La Gazzetta dello Sport
. Dydek was chosen as Poland's Sports Woman of the Year and has long been a member of the Polish National Team. She helped lead Gdynia to runner-up finishes in the FIBA Euro-league in 2002 and 2004.
at a Brisbane hospital. She had been working as a coach for the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League. Dydek collapsed at her home in Brisbane and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. She never regained consciousness and died eight days later on 27 May 2011. As Dydek was early in her pregnancy, the fetus also died. Prior to her death, she was the last surviving prominent Polish woman basketball player.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
international professional basketball player. Standing tall, she was famous for being the tallest
Human height
Human height is the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head in a human body standing erect.When populations share genetic background and environmental factors, average height is frequently characteristic within the group...
active professional female basketball player in the world. She played center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position for the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
in the WNBA and was a coach for the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League.
Personal life
Margo Dydek was born 28 April 1974 in Warsaw, Poland to a 6'7" father and a 6'3 mother. She had two sisters, her elder sister, Kashka (6'7") used to play for the Colorado XplosionColorado Xplosion
The Colorado Xplosion was the first women's professional basketball franchise in Colorado, an American Basketball League team based in Denver. Playing from 1996 through 1998, the team produced many memorable moments for Colorado sports fans and followers of women's professional basketball in...
of the now defunct ABL
ABL
ABL is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Abl gene, an oncogene associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia* Abetalipoproteinemia, a rare genetic disorder...
, and in Poland. Her younger sister (standing 6'6") graduated from the University of Texas-El Paso where she played basketball and played in Spain professionally in the 2000s.
She was awarded the Polish Gold Cross of Merit (1999).
WNBA career
Dydek made her first trip to the United States in May 1998 for WNBA pre-draft camp. Dydek was drafted 1st overall in the 1998 WNBA Draft1998 WNBA Draft
1998 WNBA Draft - 27 January 1998*On January 27, 1998 a total of 4 players were assigned to two teams in no particular order.*On February 18, 1998 a WNBA expansion draft took place*On April 28, 1998 the regular WNBA draft took place....
by the Utah Starzz
Utah Starzz
The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars...
(the franchise was subsequently transferred to San Antonio).
On 16 April 2005, during the 2005 WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
, the San Antonio Silver Stars
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
traded Dydek to the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
in exchange for the Sun's first-round draft pick, Katie Feenstra
Katie Feenstra
Katharen Ruth Mattera is a female professional basketball player for the WNBA....
from Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
.
Dydek held the record for most blocks in a WNBA career, with 877 blocks in 323 games.
Dydek led the WNBA in blocks 9 times (1998–2003, 2005–07)
Dydek led the WNBA in blocks/game 8 times (1998–2003, 2006–07)
Dydek led the WNBA in Defensive Rebounds (214) in 2001
On 27 August 2008 Dydek signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
following time away from basketball due to her pregnancy (she gave birth to a son in April 2008).
European career
Dydek played for Olimpia Poznań from 1992 to 1994, before playing for Valenciennes Orchies in France from 1994 to 1996. She then moved to Spain and played for Pool Getafe from 1996 to 1998, and moved back to Poland to play for Fota Porta GdyniaLotos VBW Clima Gdynia
Lotos Gdynia is a Polish women basketball team, based in Gdynia, playing in PLKK.-Best achievements:* Polish Championship : 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010* Polish Cup : 2005, 2007* EuroLeague Women:...
starting with the 1998–99 season. She continued to play with the club through several sponsorship changes; since then, the club has taken the names Polpharma and Lotos.
In 1999–2001, she averaged 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds for Gdynia in FIBA
International Basketball Federation
The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known as FIBA , from its French name Fédération Internationale de Basketball, is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball...
Euroleague
EuroLeague Women
The EuroLeague Women is the highest professional basketball league in Europe for women’s clubs.Unlike Euroleague for men, the competition is entirely organized by FIBA Europe.-Between 2004-2011:...
play. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Polish League Finals of the 1999–2000 season. In 1999 she was also named the best female basketball player in Europe by the Italian sports magazine La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...
. Dydek was chosen as Poland's Sports Woman of the Year and has long been a member of the Polish National Team. She helped lead Gdynia to runner-up finishes in the FIBA Euro-league in 2002 and 2004.
Death
On 19 May 2011, Dydek, at the time pregnant with her third child, suffered a severe heart attack and was placed in a medically induced comaInduced coma
A barbiturate-induced coma, or barb coma, is a temporary coma brought on by a controlled dose of a barbiturate drug, usually pentobarbital or thiopental...
at a Brisbane hospital. She had been working as a coach for the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League. Dydek collapsed at her home in Brisbane and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. She never regained consciousness and died eight days later on 27 May 2011. As Dydek was early in her pregnancy, the fetus also died. Prior to her death, she was the last surviving prominent Polish woman basketball player.
Vital statistics
- Position: CenterCenter (basketball)The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
- Height: 7 ft-2 in (2.18 m)
- Shoe size: men's 18 (US) / 54 (EU) (34 centimetres / 13.5 inches long)
- College: Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego (University School of Physical Education), in Wrocław.
- Team: Los Angeles SparksLos Angeles SparksThe Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
- National Team(s): (12), Olimpia Poznań (Poland), Valenciennes Ochies (France), Pool Getafe (Spain), Fota Porta / Polpharma VBW Clima / Lotos VBW Clima / Lotos Gdynia (Poland)