.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer considering that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has actually shown to become a devasting combination for the Group USA girls, to the point where there is actually a situation building that they might share the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Player Award.But there's a brand new duo developing, though not an unusual one, that's proved to become a major increase as the Americans pursue yet another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France and played crucial roles in Team USA's 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the team's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph and establishes a semifinal match versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit factors for the 2nd upright game, firing 60% coming from the area in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young into the beginning lineup in place of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a crew recognized for playing higher tension full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a perks after Young racked up 19 points with 4 swipes off the seat in the final pool play game versus Germany. She responded with another superb performance, having fun with power at each points alongside yet another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors and also helped carry the united state offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a bit of a slow-moving start through their standards.Nigeria was behind through simply 4 factors midway by means of the 2nd fourth. That's when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as last gamer to enter into the game for the Americans. Plum immediately altered the game with her passing and rate on the offending point, dispensing 3 simple helps as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply 6 points yet her six-minute switch to end up the first one-half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the bring about 19 at fifty percent. The U.S. then began the second half on a 15-0 operate and also the stress was actually provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered into the game balancing a matching 20.3 points per game, played their label of seasoned tormenter round. Wilson invested twenty aspects on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and pair of blocks. Stewart possessed 13 factors on 5-of-7 shooting along with 5 rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 firing. Those 3 internal markers blending for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The USA got in the video game averaging 29 aids and also once more put on a ball-sharing clinic through assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top down to as low as thirteen in the 4th quarter, along with 19 scores. The game ended along with a little bit of advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper received a technological filthy for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last few seconds.