.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer because 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of 2 booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has actually shown to be a devasting combination for the Staff United States girls, to the point where there is a scenario establishing that they could possibly discuss the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Player Award.But there is actually a brand new duo surfacing, though certainly not an astonishing one, that is actually verified to be a big boost as the Americans pursue yet another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually stepped up to be difference-makers in France as well as participated in key jobs in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It marked the team's 59th consecutive Olympic success and also sets up a semifinal matchup against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit points for the second upright game, firing 60% coming from the field in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful right into the starting sequence instead of veteran Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a team known for participating in high stress full-court self defense that challenges opposing guards.It was actually a benefit after Young scored 19 factors with four steals off the bench in the last pool play video game against Germany. She answered with one more outstanding efficiency, playing with energy at both points together with another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects as well as assisted hold the U.S. offense early in the activity as the Americans left to a little bit of a lethargic beginning through their standards.Nigeria was behind through simply four factors midway by means of the 2nd quarter. That is actually when Reeve headed to Plum, that was the 12th as well as ultimate player to enter the ready the Americans. Plum quickly modified the video game along with her passing as well as speed on the annoying end, serving up 3 fast assists and nailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with just six points however her six-minute switch to finish the first one-half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the cause 19 at fifty percent. The USA at that point started the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and also the worry was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 scores every activity, played their brand of proficient bully round. Wilson put in 20 aspects on 9-of-11 capturing along with 11 rebounds and also 2 blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 capturing along with 5 rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three internal markers combining for 16-of-21 is hard to beat.The U.S. entered the activity averaging 29 aids as well as once more applied a ball-sharing facility by constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead to as low as 13 in the fourth quarter, with 19 points. The video game finished with a little upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper obtained a specialized nasty for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the ultimate secs.