Margo Dydek made an emphatic start to Gdynia’s EuroLeague Women hopes in their opening game against Dexia Namur.

It was not clear over the summer whether the Polish national team center would return to Gdynia for a 7th consecutive season. Fortunately for club management and fans, she decided to come back and was at her majestic best against Dexia, tallying 27 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks in her side’s 87-75 win.

Dexia’s strategy was to play the game at lightning pace, a style that can sometimes leave the 213 cm Dydek a non-factor. But this time she was up to the challenge and her energy and hustle proved to much for the Belgians to handle.

Dydek, who turned 30 in April this year, is competing in her 11th EuroLeague Women. She has reached the final of the competition on 5 separate occasions with 3 different teams, but has yet to come back with a winner’s medal.

Gdynia return 5 players from last year’s team that made it all the way to the final of the competition. If Dydek can maintain the kind of form she showed against Dexia, 2005 may just be 6th time lucky.