.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer because 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of pair of booksPARIS-- The blend of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has actually proven to be a devasting mixture for the Team United States girls, relevant where there is a case building that they could share the Olympics A lot of Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there's a brand-new duo surfacing, though not an unexpected one, that's verified to be a major increase as the Americans work toward yet another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces allies Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have boosted to be difference-makers in France as well as played key tasks in Crew U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the team's 59th successive Olympic triumph and sets up a semifinal matchup versus Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit aspects for the second straight game, shooting 60% coming from the area in the United States' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful right into the beginning sequence in place of veteran Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a group understood for playing high tension full-court defense that challenges opposing guards.It was actually a perks after Young racked up 19 factors with four steals off the seat in the final swimming pool play activity against Germany. She reacted with one more outstanding performance, playing with electricity at both points along with an additional Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects as well as assisted bring the U.S. outburst early in the video game as the Americans left to a bit of a slow beginning by their standards.Nigeria was behind through just four aspects midway with the second quarter. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, who was actually the 12th and also final gamer to go into the ready the Americans. Plum promptly modified the game along with her death and velocity on the offensive point, giving out 3 quick assists and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with only 6 points but her six-minute shift to end up the very first half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the lead to 19 at half. The USA after that began the 2nd one-half on a 15-0 operate and the tension was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, who came into the activity balancing a matching 20.3 points every video game, played their brand name of professional bully ball. Wilson placed in 20 points on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart possessed 13 factors on 5-of-7 firing with five rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those three interior scorers blending for 16-of-21 is actually hard to beat.The USA entered into the activity balancing 29 supports and also once more put on a ball-sharing facility by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top down to as reduced as 13 in the fourth one-fourth, with 19 scores. The video game ended with a little bit of advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper acquired a specialized repulsive for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last seconds.