Ex-WNBA player Margo Dydek dies at the age of 37
On Friday, the former towering centre of the Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) Małgorzata Dydek, who was also known as Margo Dydek died in Brisbane, Australia at the age of 37. Dydek was placed in the medically induced coma after suffering a heart attack but couldn’t survive for more than a week.
Cathy Roberts, the operation manager of the Northside Wizards, a club that Margo was coaching in the Queensland Basketball League, confirmed the death of the ex-WNBA player.
On 19th May, the 7 ft 2 in Margo collapsed at her home in Brisbane when she was pregnant with her third child. Dydek was rushed to the hospital however she never regained consciousness during the eight days of induced coma and died earlier on Friday.
Laurel Richie, the president of WNBA also paid tribute to Margo, “She was a tremendous person, role model and athlete who touched the lives of her many fans and made an indelible mark on women’s basketball around the world,”
Margo played in WNBA for 10 year and is still the tallest female player ever to grace the court. In 323 career games, Dydek blocked 877 shots which is a record for most blocks by any player in the league. She became the defensive rebounds leader in 2001 with 214 boards.
Dydek was drafted with the first overall pick in 1998 by the Utah Stars, the franchise which was transferred to San Antonio subsequently. Margo played for five seasons in Utah and then two seasons for San Antonio Silver Stars. In 2005, she joined the Connecticut Sun and then spent the last two years of her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Dydek was quite popular among the fans due to her friendly nature and her teammates used to call her Large Marge affectionately. She was one of the most successful defensive players in the WNBA history. Margo led the league in blocks 9 times and eight times in blocks per game.
Sparks general manager Penny Toler was saddened to hear about Margo and said, “Not only was Margo a great basketball player, she was one of the kindest people I had the opportunity to play against and later work with. I was saddened to hear about her passing at such a young age. Her memory will live on, not only with the Sparks but with the entire WNBA. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family.”
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