Pancake's Day Off: How the WNBA's most famous Corgi spent her Olympic break
Las Vegas Aces forward Megan Gustafson's famous Corgi companion couldn't come to the Olympics. So she sent No Cap Space a letter to update everyone on her vacation.
Pancake is the one of the most well known pets in the WNBA. Las Vegas Aces forward Megan Gustafson bought ‘Panny’ while she was playing abroad in Europe and since then, the two have been on many adventures all over the world. But there was one trip, the 2024 Olympics in Paris, that Pancake couldn’t go on. So she took her pink suitcase filled with her toys and took a vacation of her own. Here’s how she describes it…
Dearest Gentle Reader,
It had felt like a lifetime since Momma left. We usually go all over the world together but this time, she told me I had to stay home.
The indignity.
I am Pancake, the most famous dog in the WNBA. Don’t they know that?! In Poland, they call me ‘Nalesnik’ and in Spain they call me ‘Tortita’. I’m an international girl. I host lavish meet ups with other famous corgis. What other dog has their own shoes? Air Bud never had this kind of motion. But Momma packed my pink suitcase all the same and brought me over to Ms. Terri’s house before telling me goodbye and leaving forever.
I do like Ms. Terri though. She looks after all of us basketball dogs. A’ja Wilson brings my friends, Ace and Deuce, for me to play with sometimes. Momma’s teammates Chelsea, Alysha and Tiff drop their dogs off here too. We have elaborate garden parties, run the finest agility courses and dine on kibble so good that you need to verify your tax bracket just to buy it. Ace and Deuce are also influencers. We spend our time out in the backyard thinking about content, how we’ll roll over and sleep in weird positions just to give bombastic side eye when the cameras come out. It’s a hard world out there but we are professionals. The bag will be secured one way or another.
I usually come to Ms. Terri when Momma is out of town for awhile. We have our own jerseys that we wear and sometimes we watch TV. If Ms. Terri picks me up, I think I see Momma but I don’t know if she sees me back. It must be the short legs. When we go outside, everyone knows that it’s Pancake’s show. If other dogs come up to me, I’ll entertain them. But it can’t be for too long since I need my sniffing time and beauty rest. It’s a vacation even if Momma may not ever come back. I know she will though. She needs me.
It’s been so long since she first picked me up. I was a little puppy living in Poland and even cuter than I am now. Could you even imagine? My lineage can be traced back to the Queen of England’s royal dogs. I can’t verify that but it just feels right. I give ‘famous’ and that’s what matters. Momma liked the Queen’s corgis and when she saw me she decided she’d kidnap me. I was just hanging out in my home and there she was! She picked me up, put me in a car and then some guy put me in a crate and on a plane. But soon enough, I saw her again. It felt a little weird at first but she fed me and pet me so I thought she must be my guardian. Sometimes though, Momma tells me I’m hers. I help her feel less alone and stressed while traveling and working. It’s a hard life we have! We’ve lived in Greece and Phoenix, spent time in London and go up to Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Wisconsin. Theirs is one of my favorites. I roam and run, eat all the Beggin’ Strips and get more attention than ever.
This time though, Momma was headed away without me. It doesn’t happen often. When she signs papers before we move, she always asks that I be included. The negotiations must’ve been really hard this time. She said something about ‘the Olympics’ and ‘playing for Spain’ but I don’t even think she speaks Spanish! What even is paella? She seems excited though so if it’s important to her, it’s important to me. They could’ve used a Corgi mascot to win the hearts and minds of billions of people all over the globe. But it’s their loss. Not everyone has vision.
So I spent months and years at Ms. Terri’s house, hanging out with my friends and enjoying the shade of my favorite spot. Imagine my surprise when I pick my head up one day and there she is! Momma is back! Naturally I couldn’t contain it. I activated wigglebutt mode and it was time to get some long overdue pets. Ms. Terri pulled out the camera and I knew what to do. It was one of my greatest performances to date. Some of the dogs wondered if their owners would be back but not me. Momma wouldn’t leave me forever. I’m too cute and too famous. No one would fumble this bag.
What’s next for me? Probably another pair of shoes, maybe an apparel line and world domination after that. But that comes in between some good belly rubs, a few more snacks and one big nap. Speaking of which, it’s time to go to sleep. I think I’ll lay against the wall. It makes for good content.
Yours, Chonkily,
Pancake aka Panny The WNBA Corgi