.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author due to the fact that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has actually shown to be a devasting blend for the Crew U.S.A. females, relevant where there is actually a scenario creating that they could share the Olympics Many Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo developing, though not a shocking one, that is actually shown to be a significant boost as the Americans pursue an additional gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Youthful have stepped up to become difference-makers in France and played essential functions in Staff U.S.A.'s 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the staff's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph and also puts together a semifinal competition versus Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit points for the 2nd straight activity, firing 60% coming from the area in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young in to the starting sequence instead of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a team understood for playing higher pressure full-court defense that tests opposing guards.It was a benefit after Youthful racked up 19 factors along with four steals off the seat in the ultimate pool play video game versus Germany. She reacted with one more excellent efficiency, enjoying with energy at each ends along with yet another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors and also aided hold the united state offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little bit of a sluggish begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged through simply 4 factors midway via the second fourth. That's when Reeve visited Plum, that was actually the 12th as well as last gamer to enter into the ready the Americans. Plum quickly changed the activity along with her death and speed on the objectionable point, serving up 3 fast aids and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with simply 6 aspects however her six-minute switch to end up the first half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the cause 19 at one-half. The U.S. then began the second one-half on a 15-0 run and also the anxiety was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, who entered into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 points per activity, played their brand name of proficient oppressor round. Wilson invested twenty aspects on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds and pair of blocks. Stewart had 13 aspects on 5-of-7 capturing with five rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 interior scorers integrating for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The USA went into the video game averaging 29 supports as well as once more put on a ball-sharing clinic by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead down to as low as thirteen in the 4th quarter, with 19 points. The activity ended with a little bit of advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper received a technological repulsive for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last secs.