.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author because 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has proven to be a devasting combination for the Staff USA women, relevant where there is an instance building that they might discuss the Olympics The majority of Valuable Player Award.But there's a brand-new duo surfacing, though certainly not an unusual one, that is actually proved to be a huge boost as the Americans work toward an additional gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have stepped up to be difference-makers in France and also participated in crucial roles in Group U.S.A.'s 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the crew's 59th consecutive Olympic victory and establishes a semifinal competition against Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit points for the second upright activity, firing 60% from the field in the United States' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young into the starting sequence in place of veteran Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a group known for playing higher tension full-court self defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a reward after Youthful scored 19 factors with 4 steals off the seat in the ultimate swimming pool play game versus Germany. She answered along with an additional excellent functionality, playing with energy at both points along with an additional Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors and helped bring the U.S. offense early in the activity as the Americans left to a little a sluggish beginning by their standards.Nigeria was behind by only 4 points midway through the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, that was the 12th as well as last player to go into the game for the Americans. Plum quickly changed the game with her death and rate on the objectionable end, dispensing three simple assists as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with simply six factors but her six-minute shift to complete the very first half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the trigger 19 at one-half. The USA after that started the 2nd half on a 15-0 operate and the worry was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that came into the activity balancing a matching 20.3 points every video game, played their brand name of proficient bully sphere. Wilson invested 20 factors on 9-of-11 firing along with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart possessed 13 aspects on 5-of-7 shooting with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to credit rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 interior scorers integrating for 16-of-21 is actually hard to beat.The united state entered into the game balancing 29 supports and once again applied a ball-sharing facility through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top to as low as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 points. The activity ended with a little bit of upper hand when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper obtained a technological repulsive for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the ultimate secs.