.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer due to the fact that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of pair of booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has confirmed to become a devasting blend for the Staff USA ladies, relevant where there is actually an instance cultivating that they could possibly share the Olympics The majority of Belongings Player Award.But there is actually a new duo arising, though not an astonishing one, that's proved to be a huge improvement as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have boosted to become difference-makers in France and also played crucial jobs in Team USA's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the staff's 59th successive Olympic victory and also sets up a semifinal matchup against Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit aspects for the 2nd upright video game, shooting 60% from the area in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young in to the starting sequence instead of pro Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew recognized for playing higher stress full-court protection that challenges opposing guards.It was a perks after Youthful racked up 19 aspects with 4 steals off the seat in the ultimate pool play activity against Germany. She responded with yet another great functionality, enjoying with energy at each ends alongside yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points and assisted hold the U.S. offense early in the game as the Americans left to a little bit of a lethargic start through their standards.Nigeria lagged by simply four points midway with the second one-fourth. That's when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, who was the 12th and also final player to get into the game for the Americans. Plum promptly altered the activity with her passing and also speed on the outrageous end, giving out 3 quick supports and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with merely 6 factors however her six-minute shift to complete the initial half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the cause 19 at fifty percent. The U.S. at that point started the second half on a 15-0 operate as well as the tension was provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that came into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 scores per video game, played their brand of seasoned bully ball. Wilson put in 20 aspects on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds and also 2 blocks. Stewart had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 capturing. Those three internal scorers integrating for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The USA entered into the activity averaging 29 helps as well as again applied a ball-sharing facility through putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top to as reduced as 13 in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 scores. The video game finished along with a little bit of edge when the USA's Kahleah Copper received a technological filthy for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final few seconds.