.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author due to the fact that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually confirmed to become a devasting mixture for the Staff United States women, relevant where there is an instance establishing that they could share the Olympics The majority of Valuable Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo surfacing, though not an unusual one, that's verified to become a significant boost as the Americans pursue another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Youthful have stepped up to be difference-makers in France as well as participated in crucial parts in Group U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the team's 59th consecutive Olympic success and also sets up a semifinal match against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit factors for the second straight game, firing 60% from the field in the USA' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young right into the starting sequence instead of expert Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a staff recognized for participating in high tension full-court defense that challenges opposing guards.It was an incentive after Young scored 19 factors with four steals off the seat in the last pool play video game against Germany. She answered with another excellent efficiency, enjoying with electricity at both points along with an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 points as well as assisted lug the united state outburst early in the activity as the Americans left to a little a sluggish beginning by their standards.Nigeria lagged by only four points midway by means of the 2nd quarter. That is actually when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, who was the 12th as well as ultimate player to enter the ready the Americans. Plum quickly transformed the game along with her passing and speed on the offending point, serving up three fast helps and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply six factors yet her six-minute shift to finish the 1st fifty percent caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the result in 19 at one-half. The USA after that started the second half on a 15-0 operate and the stress was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that came into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 scores per video game, played their brand name of experienced bully ball. Wilson invested 20 factors on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and also 2 blocks. Stewart had thirteen points on 5-of-7 capturing with five rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 capturing. Those three internal markers integrating for 16-of-21 is difficult to beat.The U.S. got into the activity averaging 29 assists as well as once again placed on a ball-sharing center through setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top up to as low as thirteen in the fourth quarter, with 19 scores. The game finished with a little bit of advantage when the united state's Kahleah Copper received a technological repulsive for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last few seconds.