.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer considering that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has confirmed to be a devasting combination for the Group USA females, relevant where there is actually an instance establishing that they might share the Olympics A lot of Valuable Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo developing, though not an unexpected one, that's verified to become a large boost as the Americans work toward one more gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have improved to be difference-makers in France and played vital functions in Crew USA's 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the staff's 59th consecutive Olympic victory and sets up a semifinal matchup against Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit aspects for the 2nd upright game, shooting 60% from the industry in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young in to the beginning sequence instead of veteran Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a group recognized for participating in higher tension full-court protection that challenges setting against guards.It was actually a benefit after Youthful racked up 19 aspects along with 4 swipes off the bench in the ultimate pool play activity versus Germany. She answered with another great functionality, playing with energy at each ends along with yet another Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors and helped hold the USA outburst early in the video game as the Americans got off to a little a slow-moving beginning through their standards.Nigeria lagged by simply 4 factors midway via the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as ultimate gamer to get into the ready the Americans. Plum quickly changed the activity with her death and also speed on the offensive point, serving up three fast assists as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with merely 6 aspects however her six-minute change to finish the 1st half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the trigger 19 at fifty percent. The united state then began the 2nd half on a 15-0 run and the stress was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that entered into the video game averaging a matching 20.3 points per video game, played their brand of proficient oppressor ball. Wilson placed in twenty aspects on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds and also two blocks. Stewart had 13 aspects on 5-of-7 firing with 5 rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 firing. Those three interior scorers blending for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The united state entered the activity averaging 29 supports and also once again applied a ball-sharing center through putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead up to as reduced as thirteen in the fourth quarter, along with 19 points. The video game finished with a little bit of edge when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper got a technological repulsive for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last secs.