.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer considering that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has confirmed to be a devasting combination for the Group U.S.A. girls, to the point where there is a case developing that they could share the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Player Award.But there's a brand new duo surfacing, though certainly not an unusual one, that's shown to be a big increase as the Americans pursue an additional gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France as well as participated in key functions in Staff U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the group's 59th successive Olympic success and also puts together a semifinal matchup against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit points for the 2nd upright game, firing 60% coming from the area in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful into the beginning sequence instead of professional Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a staff recognized for playing higher tension full-court defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a reward after Young racked up 19 points with 4 swipes off the bench in the last swimming pool play game versus Germany. She answered with one more great efficiency, enjoying with power at each points together with an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors and aided lug the U.S. offense early in the video game as the Americans got off to a little a slow beginning through their standards.Nigeria lagged by only 4 aspects midway through the 2nd quarter. That's when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, that was actually the 12th as well as final player to get into the ready the Americans. Plum instantaneously altered the video game with her passing away as well as speed on the annoying point, serving up three quick helps and also nailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with only 6 points however her six-minute switch to complete the first fifty percent caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the trigger 19 at half. The U.S. at that point began the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 run and also the stress and anxiety was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores per activity, played their brand name of skilled oppressor ball. Wilson put in 20 aspects on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart possessed 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting along with five rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 capturing. Those three interior scorers integrating for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The U.S. got into the game balancing 29 supports and once more placed on a ball-sharing center through assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top down to as low as 13 in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 points. The video game ended along with a little edge when the united state's Kahleah Copper acquired a technical filthy for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the ultimate few seconds.