.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has actually confirmed to become a devasting combo for the Group U.S.A. girls, relevant where there is actually an instance creating that they might discuss the Olympics A lot of Valuable Gamer Award.But there's a brand-new duo arising, though certainly not a surprising one, that is actually proved to become a large increase as the Americans work toward one more gold medal.Las Las vega Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and Jackie Youthful have actually improved to be difference-makers in France and participated in essential functions in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the group's 59th successive Olympic victory and also sets up a semifinal competition against Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful finished with double-digit factors for the second upright video game, firing 60% coming from the area in the United States' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful into the starting lineup in place of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a group known for participating in higher tension full-court defense that tests opposing guards.It was a perks after Young racked up 19 factors with 4 takes off the seat in the final pool play game versus Germany. She answered with one more superb performance, enjoying with power at each ends along with one more Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects and assisted hold the united state outburst early in the activity as the Americans left to a bit of a slow-moving beginning through their standards.Nigeria lagged through only four points midway via the 2nd one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, that was the 12th and also last gamer to enter into the game for the Americans. Plum promptly transformed the activity along with her death as well as rate on the objectionable point, dispensing three simple aids as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with merely six aspects but her six-minute change to end up the first half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the result in 19 at half. The USA after that began the 2nd one-half on a 15-0 run and the anxiety was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 points per activity, played their company of skillful tormenter round. Wilson put in twenty aspects on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 firing along with 5 rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to score 11 points on 4-of-5 firing. Those 3 indoor scorers incorporating for 16-of-21 is actually challenging to beat.The U.S. entered into the activity balancing 29 aids and again applied a ball-sharing clinic through setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead down to as reduced as thirteen in the fourth quarter, along with 19 points. The video game ended along with a little bit of advantage when the united state's Kahleah Copper obtained a technological repulsive for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.