Margo Dydek
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Małgorzata Dydek (born on 28 April 1974 in Poznań, Poland), is a Polish professional basketball player who has competed internationally. In the United States, she is known as Margo Dydek. She currently plays the center position for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.
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[edit] Personal
Dydek started playing basketball at age 12 when she was 5ft-11in (180 cm). She considers Magic Johnson to be her basketball role model. Dydek was 55 cm (21.7in) long at birth. Dydek speaks Polish, French, Spanish, English, and Russian. Her other nicknames include "Large Marge" "Duia-Fense!" and "Ptys'".
[edit] WNBA career
Standing at 2.18 m (7ft-2in), Dydek is the tallest player in WNBA history, and stands even taller than Shaquille O'Neal.
Dydek made her first trip to the United States in May of 1998 for WNBA pre-draft camp. She made her American national television debut on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 12, 1998. Dydek was drafted 1st overall in the 1999 WNBA Draft by the Utah Starzz.
On April 16, 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.
[edit] European career
Dydek played for Olimpia Poznań from 1992 to 1994, before playing for Valenciennes Ochies 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 Gdynia for the 1998-99 season.
In 1999-2001, she played for Polpharma VBW Clima Gdynia in Poland, averaging 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds in Euroleague play. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Polish League Finals of the 1999-2000 season. 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. In the seasons 2001-04, Dydek played again for Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia, which in 2002 and 2004 were runners-up in the FIBA Euroleague. In the 2004-05 season, she has played for Lotos Gdynia.
[edit] Vital statistics
- Position: Center
- Height: 7ft-2in (2.18 m)
- College: Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego (University School of Physical Education), in Wrocław. (Polish)
- Team: Connecticut Sun
- National Team(s): (12), Olimpia Poznan' (Poland), Valenciennes Ochies (France), Pool Getafe (Spain), Fota Porta / Polpharma VBW Clima / Lotos VBW Clima / Lotos Gdynia (Poland)
