Women's Olympic Basketball Semifinals 2012: Top Players Remaining in Event

The women’s basketball tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London is winding down. There are just the final four teams remaining going into tonight’s semifinal matchups.

It looks like Team USA will be facing the winner of Russia vs. France, but anything could happen because of how great some of the players are on each remaining side.

Let’s take a look at a star from each roster and who must come up big to advance to the gold-medal game.

USA: Diana Taurasi

Taurasi has been the star for the Americans, absolutely dominating the stat sheet and playing solid defense.

The Phoenix Mercury standout will be going for her third straight gold medal as a member of Team USA and certainly deserves it.

Against Canada in the quarterfinals, she put up 15 points, four assists and three rebounds from her guard position. She had an even better performance against the Chinese in group play, totaling 22 points while hitting four of five three-point attempts.

Expect her to continue her dominant run against the Australians in the semifinals.

Australia: Liz Cambage

The 6’8” center is the best chance the Opals have against the U.S. women on Thursday night. She’s got the size to bang down low and give opponents all they can handle.

She was absolutely stellar against China in the quarterfinals, tossing up 17 points and pulling down seven rebounds while being a defensive machine in the middle.

If the Aussies can get her good looks inside, Cambage will do damage and keep her side in the game.

Russia: Becky Hammon

Many Americans feel that Hammon is a traitor for defecting to the Russian national team despite being born and raised in South Dakota and playing most of her WNBA career for the New York Liberty and San Antonio Silver Stars.

She’s easily the best player for the Russians, and proved it in a narrow victory to get into the semis. Hammon scored 19 points, dished five assists and even grabbed two rebounds despite her 5'6" stature.

Hammon will once again be the key player off the bench for Russia against France. 

France: Celine Dumerc

Dumerc’s heroics allowed the French to advance in a close 71-68 contest against the Czechs to start the medal round. She scored 23 points, had six dimes and four boards.

She runs the point for the national team and is one of the best international players in the world.

A good performance will be crucial from her against the Russians.