Former Connecticut Sun player Margo Dydek passed away early today (May 27) in Brisbane Australia at the age of 37. She suffered a heart attack on May 19th and was taken to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma, which she never came out of.
Born in Poland on April 28, 1974, Dydek went onto to become the #1 overall draft pick in the 1998 WNBA Draft by Utah Starzz. She played with Utah until the franchise transferred to San Antonio and became the Silver Stars in 2003.
Before the 2005 WNBA season the 7 foot 2 inch center was traded to Connecticut for 1st round draft pick of the Sun that turned out to be Katie Feenstra. She played with the Sun from 2005 through 2007 when she signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2008 season.
Dydek, who also played pro ball in Europe, was currently coaching the Northside Wizards of the Queensland Basketball League in Brisbane Australia.
As the tallest women’s basketball player, she was prolific shot blocker, she holds the WNBA record for career blocks with 877 in just 323 games and led the WNBA in blocks nine times and blocks per game eight times.
Dydek leaves a husband and two young children and was actually pregnant with her third child when she was stricken. She has many family members still in Poland and her sister, Kashka, who professionally for the now defunct ABL’s Colorado Explosion, still plays overseas.
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Photo credit: Depth of Field Photo
