USA Olympic Women's Basketball Team: Stars Most Vital to Gold-Medal Hopes

With the Team USA women's basketball team nearly as dominant in London as their male Olympic counterparts, the U.S. national squad looks well on its way to a fifth straight gold medal.

The Team USA women opened up with a massive 90-38 beatdown of Angola and followed that up with an 89-58 victory over Turkey.

With those kind of results, it's looking less likely by the minute that Team USA will fall for the first time since 1992 in Barcelona.

But which stars are most vital to keeping that streak alive? Here's a look at the five ladies who are critical to Team USA's gold-medal hopes. 

Angel McCoughtry

Position: Forward

Olympic Stats: 14.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 66.7 FG%

The 25-year-old Atlanta Dream forward has come out firing through Team USA's two Olympic contests. 

McCoughtry has been team's leading scorer and has excelled at getting to the free-throw line, taking a whopping 19 shots from the charity stripe.

If the 2009 No. 1 overall pick can keep her play up, Team USA will have the deadliest bench in London. 

Diana Taurasi

Position: Guard

Olympic Stats: 6.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 23.1 FG%

The greatest shooter in WNBA history has struggled mightily so far in London and is quickly becoming one of Team USA's biggest disappointments. 

Luckily for Taurasi, the 2009 WNBA MVP, the U.S. hasn't faced any stiff competition and her teammates are picking up the slack.

But if Team USA wants to avoid a major upset in these Olympic Games, they're going to need a better performance from the 30-year-old gunner. 

Tamika Catchings

Position: Forward

Olympic Stats: 3.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 37.5 FG%

At 33 years old Cachings is likely playing in her final Olympic Games in London.

But even if her best days are behind her, Catchings is still Team USA's best defender.

The 6'1" forward has helped Team USA dominate in the middle with center Candace Parker, blocking 1.5 shots per game as the Americans have allowed just 48.0 points per contest so far. 

For Catchings to be at her apex potential, she will need to make more of an offensive contribution. The Indiana Fever star took just two shots against Turkey, missing both and taking her shot percentage below 40 percent.

Team USA will need a better offensive performance going forward to keep Catchings as a no-brainer in the starting lineup.

Tina Charles

Position: Forward

Olympic Stats: 11.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 50.0 FG%

At 23 years old, Charles is the second-youngest player on Team USA's roster but also may be the team's second-best player.

The WNBA's leading rebounder each of the past two seasons has stepped up for Team USA in that area as well, trailing only Parker.

A move to the bench also seemed to prove beneficial for Charles as she scored 16 points in the United States' 89-58 victory over Turkey on Wednesday. 

Candace Parker

Position: Center

Olympic Stats: 8.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 47.1 FG%

It's hard to believe that Parker is still only 26 years old. 

The first woman ever to dunk in an NCAA game has struggled with injuries in each of the past two seasons, but finally looks healthy in Olympic competition.

Her 14 points and 12 rebounds against Angola were key to overwhelming the opposition and her three blocks in 15 minutes against Turkey helped continue Team USA's overwhelming defensive presence.

Despite the injuries, Parker is still the most dominant force in women's basketball and seems destined to prove it in these Olympics.