.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer due to the fact that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has verified to become a devasting combination for the Staff USA females, relevant where there is actually an instance creating that they could possibly discuss the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Player Award.But there's a new duo emerging, though not an astonishing one, that is actually proved to become a major increase as the Americans pursue another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have actually improved to be difference-makers in France and also participated in essential parts in Team United States's 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the group's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph as well as puts together a semifinal competition against Australia, victors 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 industry in the United States' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young in to the starting lineup instead of veteran Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a group understood for participating in higher tension full-court self defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a perks after Youthful racked up 19 aspects with 4 steals off the bench in the final pool play video game against Germany. She reacted with one more superb performance, enjoying with energy at both points alongside an additional Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects and helped bring the USA offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little bit of a lethargic beginning through their standards.Nigeria was behind through just four points midway by means of the second quarter. That's when Reeve visited Plum, who was the 12th and also last gamer to get into the game for the Americans. Plum instantly altered the activity with her passing away and rate on the repulsive end, serving up three easy supports as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with merely 6 aspects yet her six-minute change to finish the first half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the trigger 19 at one-half. The USA after that started the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and the tension was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, who entered the game balancing a matching 20.3 scores per video game, played their company of proficient oppressor round. Wilson invested twenty aspects on 9-of-11 firing along with 11 rebounds and also pair of blocks. Stewart had 13 aspects on 5-of-7 shooting with 5 rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to credit rating 11 points on 4-of-5 capturing. Those 3 interior scorers combining for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The U.S. entered the video game averaging 29 helps and once again applied a ball-sharing center by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top down to as low as 13 in the 4th quarter, with 19 scores. The activity finished with a little advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper obtained a technical repulsive for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final secs.