.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer given that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has verified to become a devasting mixture for the Team United States girls, to the point where there is a scenario creating that they could possibly share the Olympics Many Valuable Gamer Award.But there's a brand-new duo developing, though certainly not a surprising one, that's shown to become a major boost as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces allies Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have actually stepped up to be difference-makers in France and participated in key duties in Team USA's 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the group's 59th consecutive Olympic victory and also sets up a semifinal match against Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit aspects for the second upright game, shooting 60% coming from the industry in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young in to the starting sequence instead of expert Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a staff recognized for participating in higher pressure full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a benefit after Youthful scored 19 factors along with four swipes off the bench in the last pool play video game versus Germany. She responded with one more exceptional efficiency, enjoying with energy at both points alongside an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors as well as helped hold the united state outburst early in the game as the Americans got off to a little a sluggish begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged by merely 4 aspects midway by means of the second quarter. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, who was the 12th and also last gamer to enter the game for the Americans. Plum quickly modified the activity along with her passing away and rate on the outrageous end, dishing out three quick assists and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with just six factors but her six-minute change to end up the 1st half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the trigger 19 at one-half. The USA at that point started the 2nd one-half on a 15-0 operate and the worry was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered into the activity averaging a matching 20.3 scores every activity, played their brand name of seasoned bully sphere. Wilson put in 20 points on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds as well as pair of blocks. Stewart had thirteen factors on 5-of-7 firing with five rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those 3 internal scorers incorporating for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The U.S. entered the game balancing 29 helps and also once again applied a ball-sharing clinic by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead to as reduced as thirteen in the fourth quarter, along with 19 points. The game finished with a little advantage when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper acquired a technical repulsive for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last few seconds.