.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author given that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of pair of booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has proven to become a devasting combination for the Group USA females, relevant where there is actually a situation establishing that they could possibly discuss the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there's a brand new duo emerging, though not a surprising one, that is actually proved to become a significant boost as the Americans pursue another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and Jackie Youthful have stepped up to become difference-makers in France and participated in key tasks in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the crew's 59th consecutive Olympic success as well as establishes a semifinal competition versus Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young do with double-digit points for the 2nd upright activity, firing 60% from the industry in the USA' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young into the starting lineup in place of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a crew recognized for participating in higher stress full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a perks after Young scored 19 points along with 4 takes off the seat in the final pool play video game against Germany. She answered along with an additional excellent functionality, playing with energy at each ends along with yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects and also helped bring the united state offense early in the activity as the Americans left to a little a lethargic begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged by only four points midway by means of the 2nd quarter. That's when Reeve visited Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as final gamer to enter into the game for the Americans. Plum promptly transformed the game along with her passing away and also velocity on the objectionable end, dispensing 3 fast assists and also nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with merely 6 aspects yet her six-minute switch to end up the 1st fifty percent led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the trigger 19 at fifty percent. The U.S. after that started the second one-half on a 15-0 run and also the stress was created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 points per video game, played their label of experienced tormenter round. Wilson placed in 20 points on 9-of-11 capturing along with 11 rebounds as well as 2 blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 capturing with five rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three indoor markers blending for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The USA went into the game balancing 29 supports and once more put on a ball-sharing facility through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead up to as low as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 scores. The activity ended along with a little upper hand when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper obtained a technical foul for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last seconds.