The basketball world mourned a tragic loss when Malgorzata Dydek, affectionately known as Margo Dydek, passed away at the age of 37 in Brisbane in 2011. Standing tall at 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters), Dydek made history as the tallest professional female basketball player ever. While the NBA has had many towering centers in its rich history, the towering center was alone in the WNBA.

From Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming, and Manute Bol, the 7-foot mark for an NBA center is pretty respectable but not ordinary to avoid. On the contrary, in the WNBA, Dydek stood in a league of her own. But who was the WNBA’s tallest player as an individual?

A towering legacy of a WNBA legend

Margo Dydek, born in Warsaw, Poland, on April 28th, 1974, came from a tall family. Her father stood at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters), while her mother measured 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters). She had two sisters, one of whom, Katarzyna, was also a professional basketball player, who played for the Colorado Xplosion. Meanwhile, Marta played college basketball in the United States and professionally in Spain during the 2000s.

Dydek’s journey to the States began in May 1998 when she attended the WNBA pre-draft camp. She was an imposing figure, and it didn’t go unnoticed. The Utah Starzz selected her as the No. 1 pick in the 1998 WNBA draft. She played for the Starzz, later known as the San Antonio Silver Stars for seven years. This was before she concluded her WNBA career with the Connecticut Sun and the Los Angeles Sparks.

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Dydek’s shot-blocking prowess was legendary. She led the WNBA in blocks an astonishing nine times and holds the record for the most blocks in a WNBA career, with 877 blocks in 323 games. Her impact on the defensive end of the court was undeniable. She also represented her home country, Poland, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, showcasing her talent on the international stage.

A heartbreaking tragedy

In 2011, Dydek, who was pregnant with her third child, suffered a heart attack that led to her being placed in a medically induced coma on May 19. Unfortunately, neither she nor her baby survived.

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Despite the heartbreaking end to her life, Dydek’s legacy lives on. The 2011 WNBA president Laurel Richie in light of Dydek’s passing said, “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.” She was honored with the FIBA Hall of Fame induction in 2019, cementing her status as one of the all-time greats in women’s basketball.

A trailblazer in Europe

Dydek’s impact extended beyond the WNBA. In the 1999-2000 season, she averaged an impressive 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds for Gdynia in FIBA EuroLeague play. Her dominance in Europe earned her the title of Most Valuable Player of the Polish League Finals for that season. In 1999, her on-court skills earned her Europe’s top female basketball player title, awarded by La Gazzetta dello Sport. Moreover, Dydek was named Poland’s Sports Woman of the Year and played a vital role in the Poland women’s national basketball team, contributing to their victory in the EuroBasket Women 1999 tournament.

In the FIBA EuroLeague, Dydek’s impact was felt as she helped lead Gdynia to runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2004. She dominated the European basketball scene with her versatile skillset, becoming a formidable force to reckon with. Margo Dydek’s journey, though tragically cut short, is a testament to her dedication, talent, and the impact she had on women’s basketball both in the United States and in Europe. Her legacy lives on as she continues to inspire aspiring basketball players around the world, especially those who aspire to follow in her towering footsteps.

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