.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author because 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has actually verified to become a devasting combination for the Staff United States ladies, relevant where there is an instance cultivating that they could possibly share the Olympics Many Prized Possession Player Award.But there is actually a new duo emerging, though not a shocking one, that's shown to be a large improvement as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France and also played key parts in Crew United States's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the team's 59th successive Olympic victory and also puts together a semifinal matchup against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit factors for the 2nd upright activity, shooting 60% from the area in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young into the starting sequence instead of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a group understood for playing higher stress full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a perks after Youthful racked up 19 aspects along with four steals off the seat in the final pool play video game versus Germany. She responded with yet another excellent efficiency, playing with power at each ends alongside yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors and also assisted carry the united state offense early in the video game as the Americans left to a little bit of a sluggish begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged through only 4 points midway via the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, that was the 12th as well as ultimate gamer to get in the ready the Americans. Plum promptly transformed the video game with her passing and also velocity on the annoying end, dishing out three simple aids as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply six aspects but her six-minute switch to end up the first fifty percent resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the result in 19 at one-half. The USA then began the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate as well as the tension was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that entered into the activity balancing a matching 20.3 points every video game, played their label of experienced oppressor ball. Wilson invested 20 factors on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds and also two blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen aspects on 5-of-7 shooting along with five rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 indoor markers mixing for 16-of-21 is tough to beat.The USA got into the video game averaging 29 helps as well as once more placed on a ball-sharing clinic by putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top to as reduced as thirteen in the fourth quarter, with 19 scores. The game finished along with a little advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper obtained a technical foul for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last few seconds.