Some WNBA players (past and present) have called for a “prayer call” at 6 p.m. PDT on Monday, sending well-wishes to former center Margo Dydek. She remains in a medically-induced coma in Brisbane, Australia after suffering a heart attack on Thursday.
Dydek, who’s 7-foot-2, is pregnant with her third child. Former Storm G Kate Starbird, a Tacoma native, has offered some updates via Twitter since she was a teammate of Dydek’s in Utah. Lovingly called “Large Marge,” Dydek also played for Los Angeles and Connecticut. She relocated from her native Poland to Australia due to her husband’s work in the country.
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Storm All-Stars Swin Cash and Lauren Jackson have also been in contact with Dydek’s family. Jackson saw her healthy while doing flood-relief charity work in Brisbane during the WNBA offseason. Dydek, 37, was working as a coach for the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League.
“I grew up playing against her and it’s a horrible thing,” Jackson said. “My heart goes out to them (the family).
“She loved coaching. I saw her coaching one of the All-Star teams and she was good. From all accounts she loved Australia and loved the city, living out there with her family.”
Cash had dinners with Dydek’s family in Poland when playing with international teams. She remains in contact with Dydek’s sister through the difficult time.
“This is really heartbreaking,” Cash said Sunday. “Staying in prayer for her is so important. Margo is an amazing, lovely girl. Always has been. She’s one of those giants but a huge heart. So, it’s a tough situation and I’m going to keep her family in prayer.”
Washington post Chasity Melvin, also a friend of Cash’s, wrote a blog dedicated to Dydek. In the post on Sunday, she wrote out a prayer she hoped readers would say for Dydek.
*PHOTO CREDIT: Margo Dydek by Getty Images