.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer due to the fact that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has proven to be a devasting combo for the Staff U.S.A. girls, relevant where there is an instance creating that they might share the Olympics A lot of Valuable Gamer Award.But there's a brand new duo developing, though not an unusual one, that's proved to become a big increase as the Americans pursue yet another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France as well as participated in essential jobs in Staff USA's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It marked the team's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph and also puts together a semifinal match versus Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit aspects for the 2nd upright activity, shooting 60% from the field in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful in to the beginning lineup instead of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a crew understood for participating in higher stress full-court defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a perks after Young racked up 19 points with four swipes off the bench in the ultimate pool play activity against Germany. She responded with one more great efficiency, enjoying with energy at both points together with yet another Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors and also assisted hold the U.S. offense early in the video game as the Americans left to a bit of a lethargic begin by their standards.Nigeria was behind through only 4 points midway through the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, who was the 12th as well as ultimate gamer to get in the game for the Americans. Plum instantly changed the game along with her passing as well as rate on the offensive point, dispensing three quick assists as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply 6 points yet her six-minute switch to complete the first half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the bring about 19 at fifty percent. The U.S. then began the second fifty percent on a 15-0 run and also the anxiety was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that came into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 points every video game, played their label of seasoned oppressor ball. Wilson invested twenty aspects on 9-of-11 capturing along with 11 rebounds as well as 2 blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen points on 5-of-7 capturing along with 5 rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to score 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three internal scorers mixing for 16-of-21 is hard to beat.The U.S. got in the video game averaging 29 supports as well as once again applied a ball-sharing clinic through assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead down to as reduced as 13 in the fourth one-fourth, with 19 points. The video game ended along with a little upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a technological nasty for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the ultimate secs.