.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer due to the fact that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of pair of booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has actually shown to become a devasting mixture for the Staff United States women, to the point where there is actually a case building that they might discuss the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there's a brand new duo arising, though certainly not an unexpected one, that's proved to be a major boost as the Americans pursue yet another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and Jackie Youthful have improved to be difference-makers in France and played key parts in Staff United States's 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the team's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph and puts together 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, shooting 60% coming from the field in the United States' win over Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful in to the beginning sequence instead of professional Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a team recognized for playing high tension full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was actually a perks after Youthful scored 19 aspects along with four takes off the bench in the final pool play activity against Germany. She answered with another outstanding efficiency, enjoying with power at each ends along with one more Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points and also helped lug the USA outburst early in the activity as the Americans left to a bit of a lethargic begin by their standards.Nigeria was behind through simply four factors midway through the second quarter. That is actually when Reeve headed to Plum, that was actually the 12th and also final player to go into the ready the Americans. Plum immediately transformed the activity with her passing as well as speed on the offensive end, dishing out 3 easy assists as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with merely 6 aspects but her six-minute change to complete the very first one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the lead to 19 at one-half. The U.S. after that started the second half on a 15-0 operate as well as the stress and anxiety was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that entered into the activity balancing a matching 20.3 scores per game, played their brand name of skillful bully ball. Wilson put in twenty points on 9-of-11 firing along with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart possessed 13 aspects on 5-of-7 firing with 5 rebounds and also 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 interior scorers blending for 16-of-21 is difficult to beat.The united state went into the video game averaging 29 helps and also once again placed on a ball-sharing medical clinic by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead up to as low as 13 in the 4th quarter, along with 19 points. The activity finished along with a little bit of upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a specialized filthy for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last secs.