.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer because 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually proven to become a devasting mix for the Team U.S.A. girls, relevant where there is an instance developing that they could discuss the Olympics Many Valuable Gamer Award.But there's a brand-new duo developing, though not a shocking one, that is actually proved to become a large improvement as the Americans pursue one more gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have actually boosted to be difference-makers in France as well as played key duties in Group United States's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the team's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph as well as sets up a semifinal competition versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit aspects for the second straight activity, firing 60% coming from the industry in the United States' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful in to the beginning sequence instead of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a group known for participating in high pressure full-court protection that challenges setting against guards.It was a benefit after Young racked up 19 factors along with four swipes off the bench in the ultimate pool play activity against Germany. She reacted with another great performance, playing with power at both ends together with an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points as well as helped bring the U.S. outburst early in the game as the Americans left to a little a sluggish begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged through simply 4 points midway by means of the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th and ultimate player to enter the game for the Americans. Plum instantly altered the game with her passing and also speed on the outrageous point, dispensing three fast assists and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with simply six aspects but her six-minute shift to complete the initial half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the result in 19 at fifty percent. The united state at that point started the second one-half on a 15-0 run as well as the tension was actually provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that entered into the activity averaging a matching 20.3 points per game, played their brand of competent tormenter sphere. Wilson invested 20 aspects on 9-of-11 firing along with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart possessed 13 aspects on 5-of-7 shooting along with 5 rebounds and also 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three indoor markers blending for 16-of-21 is actually challenging to beat.The U.S. entered the video game balancing 29 aids and also once again applied a ball-sharing medical clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead down to as low as thirteen in the fourth quarter, with 19 scores. The game ended with a little advantage when the united state's Kahleah Copper acquired a technical filthy for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.