.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author considering that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has actually verified to be a devasting mixture for the Crew USA girls, to the point where there is actually a situation creating that they might discuss the Olympics A lot of Belongings Player Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo emerging, though not a surprising one, that's shown to become a major increase as the Americans pursue yet another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have actually improved to be difference-makers in France and also played key roles in Team United States's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the group's 59th consecutive Olympic victory and also establishes a semifinal competition against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful finished with double-digit aspects for the 2nd straight game, firing 60% coming from the field in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful into the beginning lineup in place of veteran Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a staff known for playing higher pressure full-court self defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a benefit after Young racked up 19 aspects with 4 swipes off the seat in the ultimate swimming pool play activity versus Germany. She answered with an additional superb functionality, having fun with electricity at each ends together with an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points and helped bring the U.S. outburst early in the video game as the Americans got off to a little bit of a sluggish beginning through their standards.Nigeria lagged through merely four aspects midway with the 2nd quarter. That's when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th and also final gamer to enter the ready the Americans. Plum instantaneously transformed the game along with her death as well as speed on the outrageous end, dishing out 3 simple assists and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply 6 points yet her six-minute change to end up the 1st fifty percent led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the cause 19 at one-half. The USA then began the second half on a 15-0 run and also the stress was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, who came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores every game, played their company of competent bully ball. Wilson invested twenty factors on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen factors on 5-of-7 firing with five rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to credit rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three interior scorers combining for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The U.S. entered into the game averaging 29 assists and also once again placed on a ball-sharing medical clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead down to as low as 13 in the fourth quarter, along with 19 scores. The activity finished along with a little advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a technological repulsive for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last secs.