.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer considering that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has actually confirmed to become a devasting combo for the Staff U.S.A. females, relevant where there is a case establishing that they might discuss the Olympics The majority of Belongings Gamer Award.But there's a brand-new duo emerging, though not a shocking one, that's verified to be a large boost as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces allies Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually improved to become difference-makers in France as well as participated in crucial tasks in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the crew's 59th successive Olympic victory and puts together a semifinal match versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young completed with double-digit factors for the 2nd straight activity, shooting 60% coming from the field in the USA' win over Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young in to the beginning lineup instead of pro Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a staff understood for playing higher stress full-court defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a perks after Youthful scored 19 points along with 4 steals off the bench in the final swimming pool play game against Germany. She reacted along with one more excellent performance, enjoying with electricity at each points along with another Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors and helped hold the united state offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little bit of a slow-moving start by their standards.Nigeria lagged by just four points midway through the 2nd quarter. That's when Reeve went to Plum, that was the 12th and final player to enter into the game for the Americans. Plum instantaneously modified the video game with her death and also speed on the repulsive end, dishing out three quick supports as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply six factors however her six-minute change to complete the very first half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the lead to 19 at half. The U.S. then started the second one-half on a 15-0 run as well as the anxiety was created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered into the activity averaging a matching 20.3 scores per activity, played their brand name of skilled oppressor ball. Wilson invested twenty points on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds and also two blocks. Stewart had thirteen factors on 5-of-7 capturing along with five rebounds and also 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those three interior scorers integrating for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The USA got in the video game balancing 29 assists as well as once more applied a ball-sharing clinic by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead to as low as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 scores. The game ended along with a little advantage when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper obtained a specialized repulsive for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final seconds.