.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer given that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The blend of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has actually proven to become a devasting combo for the Staff U.S.A. girls, to the point where there is actually an instance establishing that they might discuss the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Player Award.But there's a brand-new duo surfacing, though certainly not an unexpected one, that's confirmed to be a big improvement as the Americans pursue yet another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have stepped up to be difference-makers in France as well as participated in crucial jobs in Team USA's 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the team's 59th successive Olympic victory as well as establishes a semifinal match against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young completed with double-digit aspects for the second straight activity, firing 60% from the area in the USA' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young into the beginning lineup in place of expert Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a group known for participating in high pressure full-court protection that tests setting against guards.It was an incentive after Youthful racked up 19 aspects along with 4 takes off the bench in the final swimming pool play video game against Germany. She responded with another excellent performance, having fun with power at both points along with another Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects as well as assisted lug the united state offense early in the game as the Americans got off to a little bit of a sluggish start through their standards.Nigeria lagged through just 4 factors midway via the second fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th and also last gamer to go into the ready the Americans. Plum immediately transformed the video game along with her death as well as speed on the objectionable end, dispensing three fast supports as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with simply six factors but her six-minute change to finish the 1st fifty percent caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the lead to 19 at fifty percent. The USA after that began the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and also the tension was provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered the video game averaging a matching 20.3 points every game, played their label of seasoned tormenter sphere. Wilson invested twenty points on 9-of-11 firing with 11 rebounds and also 2 blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen points on 5-of-7 shooting along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three indoor scorers combining for 16-of-21 is tough to beat.The united state got in the video game balancing 29 assists and once more put on a ball-sharing center by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top up to as reduced as 13 in the 4th quarter, along with 19 scores. The video game ended with a little bit of edge when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a technical foul for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the final seconds.