.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer given that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has actually verified to become a devasting mixture for the Team United States ladies, to the point where there is actually a situation cultivating that they could share the Olympics Most Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo developing, though not a surprising one, that is actually confirmed to become a major increase as the Americans pursue an additional gold medal.Las Vegas Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Youthful have actually boosted to be difference-makers in France as well as played crucial duties in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the staff's 59th consecutive Olympic success and also establishes a semifinal match against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit factors for the second straight video game, firing 60% coming from the area in the USA' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful right into the beginning sequence instead of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a team recognized for participating in higher stress full-court protection that challenges opposing guards.It was a perks after Young racked up 19 aspects along with four steals off the bench in the final pool play activity versus Germany. She reacted with an additional superb performance, enjoying with power at each points together with another Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects and also assisted bring the united state offense early in the game as the Americans got off to a little a slow-moving beginning through their standards.Nigeria was behind by simply four points midway via the second fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as final gamer to get in the ready the Americans. Plum instantly altered the activity along with her passing away and also velocity on the outrageous point, dishing out 3 fast helps and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with merely 6 points however her six-minute change to complete the initial one-half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the trigger 19 at fifty percent. The united state after that started the second half on a 15-0 operate as well as the stress was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, who entered the video game averaging a matching 20.3 points per activity, played their company of competent tormenter round. Wilson placed in 20 points on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds as well as 2 blocks. Stewart possessed 13 points on 5-of-7 capturing with 5 rebounds and also 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to score 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three interior scorers mixing for 16-of-21 is actually tough to beat.The USA entered the video game averaging 29 helps as well as once more put on a ball-sharing facility by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead up to as low as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 points. The video game ended along with a little bit of advantage when the united state's Kahleah Copper acquired a specialized foul for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.